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GAA18CA225

2018-04-21 · Pelion, South Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 6J0

Current FAA registration · N9042N

Make / Model
REPUBLIC RC-3
Year of manufacture
1947 · 71 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING GO-480 SERIES (295 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19880317
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AC80B3

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped amphibious airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot added full right rudder, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a ditch. The right main landing gear sheared off and the right wing struck the ground. 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 automated weather observation station located about 12 miles east of the airport reported that, about 34 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 11 knots, gusting 15 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 080° at 7 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The airplane landed on runway 18. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped amphibious airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot added full right rudder, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a ditch. The right main landing gear sheared off and the right wing struck the ground. 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 automated weather observation station located about 12 miles east of the airport reported that, about 34 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 090° at 11 knots, gusting 15 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 26 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 080° at 7 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The airplane landed on runway 18. 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
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA225.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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