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GAA18CA441

2018-06-16 · East Sound, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ORS

N11YB has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (ALLIANCE AIRCRAFT ARGO), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control in a gusting, left quartering headwind.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during a left wing low (sideslip) landing and prior to touchdown, he leveled the wings, and the airplane bounced. He then increased the throttle slightly, adjusted the pitch to cushion the subsequent bounce but the airplane veered right, exited the runway to the right, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left 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 on the airport reported that 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 310° at 6 knots, gusting 12 knots. The airplane landed on runway 34. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a left-wing-low (sideslip) landing and before touchdown, he leveled the wings, and the airplane bounced. He then increased the throttle slightly and adjusted the pitch to cushion the subsequent bounce, but the airplane veered right, exited the runway to the right, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 310° at 6 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 34. 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
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA441.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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