Event GAA18CA532

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a touch and go landing, just after the airplane touched down, he reduced the flaps to 10° and applied full throttle for takeoff. While increasing airspeed, the airplane drifted to the left. He added right rudder, but the airplane continued to drift left so he reduced engine power. The airplane then exited the left side of the runway and he briefly applied full throttle to cross a drainage ditch and the airplane became airborne. Subsequently, when the airplane touched back down, the front landing gear separated from the airframe, and the airplane came to rest nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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 system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 100° at 3 knots. The pilot was performing a touch and go on runway 24. The pilot reported that, during a touch-and-go landing, just after the airplane touched down, he reduced the flaps to 10° and applied full throttle for takeoff. While increasing airspeed, the airplane drifted left. He added right rudder, but the airplane continued to drift left, so he reduced engine power. The airplane then exited the left side of the runway, and the pilot briefly applied full throttle to cross a drainage ditch, and the airplane became airborne. Subsequently, when the airplane touched back down, the front landing gear separated from the airframe, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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 system at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 100° at 3 knots. The pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 24. 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven terrain-Effect on equipment
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation