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GAA19CA572

2019-09-23 · Boulder, Colorado, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BDU

Current FAA registration · N4785F

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-150
Year of manufacture
1962 · 57 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19760317
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5E1DF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

Factual narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he made a normal three-point landing. During the landing roll, the airplane ground-looped to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and the rudder. The airport's METAR reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was calm. 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 he conducted a normal three-point landing. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and the rudder. 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 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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA572.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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