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GAA18CA451

2018-07-28 · Pickens, South Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LQK

N24CM has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (CIRRUS DESIGN SR22T, built 2017), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane, he had practiced two takeoffs and landings and decided to refuel the airplane. After refueling the airplane, he flew one more pattern prior to flying to his home airport. During the flare, the airplane "seemed as if it was being pushed down." The left wing struck the runway and the airplane landed on the right main landing gear, and then it bounced. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The METAR at the airport about the time of the accident reported that the wind was calm. 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, experimental, amateur-built airplane, he had practiced two takeoffs and landings and then decided to refuel the airplane. After refueling the airplane, he flew one more pattern before flying to his home airport. The pilot stated that, during the landing flare, the airplane "seemed as if it was being pushed down." The left wing struck the runway, the airplane landed on the right main landing gear, and the airplane then bounced. The propeller struck the ground, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and then stopped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The METAR at the airport about the time of the accident reported that the wind was calm. 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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • 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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA451.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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