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GAA19CA305

2019-05-30 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2AK1

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain the runway centerline during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing with the left wheel off the runway, an impact with trees, and a nose-over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a gravel runway, he noticed that he "floated slightly off of the center of the runway to the west". He touched down with the left wheel off the runway in some vegetation, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed that there were alder branches wrapped around the left main landing gear and the landing gear locked up. The pilot removed the branches and the landing gear moved "fine." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and empennage. 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 the wind was from 090° and light and variable. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 33. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a gravel runway, he noticed that the airplane "floated slightly off of the center of the runway to the west." The airplane touched down with the left wheel off the runway in some vegetation, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed that there were alder branches wrapped around the left main landing gear and that the landing gear was locked up. The pilot said he removed the branches, and the landing gear moved "fine." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and empennage. 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 the wind was from 090° and light and variable. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 33. 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-Heading/course-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA305.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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