Event GAA18CA489

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he performed a 3-point landing on a sand bar, but the airplane bounced, and upon touchdown, the right main landing gear struck a rock, and the airplane nosed over and impacted the terrain. The pilot added that he landed with "too much speed." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. 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 he conducted a three-point landing on a sand bar and that the airplane bounced, the right main landing gear struck a rock, and the airplane then nosed over. The pilot added that he landed with "too much speed." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing lift strut. 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-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Debris/dirt/foreign object-Effect on operation