Event GAA18CA191

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while circling over the destination airport, she observed the windsock in a "light [and] variable" state. She added that, after a touch-and-go landing, she added full power for takeoff and the airplane veered to the right, then back to the runway centerline, at which point the airplane became briefly airborne. The airplane landed back on the runway, veered off the runway to the left, impacted sage brush, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. 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, while circling over the destination airport, she observed the windsock in a "light [and] variable" state. She added that, after a touch-and-go landing, she added full power for takeoff and the airplane veered to the right, then back to the runway centerline, at which point the airplane became briefly airborne. The airplane landed back on the runway, veered off the runway to the left, impacted sage brush, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. 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

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or 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
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome