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GAA19CA394

2019-07-04 · Casper, Wyoming, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CPR

N941DM has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (MERIT AVIATION LLC CCX-2000, built 2020), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing with a tailwind, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing with a tailwind, the airplane ground looped to the right. Both landing gear collapsed the left wing struck 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 airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 4 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 03. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing with a tailwind, the airplane ground looped to the right. Both landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck 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 airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 4 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 6 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 03. 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
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA394.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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