GAA18CA509

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll about 40 knots ground speed, the airplane drifted to the left and he corrected back to the center. However, the airplane drifted to the right and he was unable to correct back to center. The airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing struck the ground before the airplane came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to forward lower fuselage bulkhead and the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll about 40 knots ground speed, the airplane drifted left, and he corrected back to the runway center. However, the airplane then drifted right, and he was unable to correct back to the runway center. The airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing struck the ground before the airplane came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward lower fuselage bulkhead and the left wing. 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C