GAA19CA351

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, she added more aileron input to counteract a wind gust but just as quickly, the "crosswind died off." The airplane fishtailed so she aborted the takeoff and applied brakes, but the airplane veered right and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing aft spar and engine mounts. 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 5 minutes prior to the accident, the wind was from 310° at 9 knots, gusting 17 knots. The airplane departed on runway 04. The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a wind gust, so she added more aileron input to counteract it, but the "gust died down." The airplane then fishtailed, so she attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing power and applying brakes, but the airplane veered right. Despite applying brakes to stop the veer, the left wing settled to the ground, and the airplane came to a stop at the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing aft spar and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C