GAA19CA075

Factual narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing, the airplane encountered a variable crosswind gust and the left wing lifted. He was able to keep the airplane on the runway and established a landing roll. The ground speed was about 20 miles per hour and the airplane encountered another wind gust. The airplane weathervaned to the left and exited the left side of the runway, rolled into mud and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was variable at 5 knots and gusting to 8 knots. The METAR at the nearest airport was about 12 miles to the west of the accident site, and reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was out from 02 at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 25. 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 landing, the airplane encountered a variable crosswind gust, and the left wing lifted. He was able to keep the airplane on the runway and established a landing roll. The ground speed was about 20 mph, and the airplane encountered another wind gust. The airplane weather-vaned to the left, exited the left side of the runway, rolled into mud, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was variable at 5 knots, gusting to 8 knots. A METAR at the nearest airport about 12 miles west of the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 020° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 25. 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
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Wet/muddy terrain-Contributed to outcome