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GAA18CA178

2018-03-23 · Hartselle, Alabama, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 5M0

Current FAA registration · N654MM

Make / Model
FLIGHTWORKS CORP CAPELLA XS FW2C80TD
Year of manufacture
1995 · 23 years old at event
Engine
ROTAX 912 (80 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20150422
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A89CB5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a wheel landing, the airplane began to drift to the left while the tail was still in the air. He added that he added right rudder to no avail. He added that he "went to full power too late", the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch to the left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a wheel landing, the airplane began to drift to the left while the tail was still in the air. He added that he added right rudder to no avail. He added that he "went to full power too late", the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch to the left of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA178.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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