Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / GAA19CA072

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event GAA19CA072

2018-11-23 Benson, Arizona, United States Airport · E95 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's overcorrection during the landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, the right wing lifted, and the airplane drifted left. He added that he over corrected and the airplane veered to the right off the runway. The left main landing gear caught in the dirt, collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, at the accident airport, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was reported as variable, calm, and not gusting. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing, the right wing lifted, and the airplane drifted left. He added that he "overcorrected," and the airplane veered right off the runway. The left main landing gear caught in the dirt and collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind conditions were variable and calm. 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 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
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Rudder control system-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Soft surface-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA19CA072.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.