Event GAA18CA447

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, restricted category airplane, he had performed an agricultural flight and was landing to take on another load. He made a three-point landing with full flaps and closed the throttle. During the landing roll, the airplane "turned violently to the right and got very light on the gear." The nose of the airplane had turned 45° to the right of the runway centerline, so he applied left brake and left rudder, and then he added power. As the power increased, and the airplane rolled to the left. He reported that the left wing struck the ground and he pulled the throttle to idle, and then he applied reverse thrust and full brakes. However, the airplane exited the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported that about the time of the accident the wind was light and variable, but dust devils were present. Additionally, he reported that the accident could have been prevented by landing at a higher airspeed to keep air flow over the rudder, and by minimizing the engine thrust. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, restricted-category airplane, he had performed an agricultural flight and was landing to take on another load. He made a three-point landing with full flaps and closed the throttle. He stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane "turned violently to the right and got very light on the gear." The airplane’s nose had turned 45° right of the runway centerline, so he applied left brake and left rudder and then he added power. As the power increased, the airplane rolled left. The left wing struck the ground, and the pilot pulled the throttle to idle and then he applied reverse thrust and full brakes. However, the airplane exited the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was light and variable, but dust devils were present. Additionally, he reported that the accident could have been prevented by landing at a higher airspeed to keep airflow over the rudder and by minimizing the engine thrust. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Contributed to outcome