GAA18CA527

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, the crosswind lifted the left wing, the airplane drifted to the right, and, as the right main landing gear encountered the grass on the right side of the runway, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut, right aileron, and empennage. 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, about 8 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 150° at 10 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The airplane landed on runway 19. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, a crosswind lifted the left wing, and the airplane drifted right. The right main landing gear encountered the grass on the right side of the runway, and the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut, right aileron, and the empennage. 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, about 8 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 150° at 10 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The airplane landed on runway 19. 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
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation