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GAA20CA013

2019-10-14 · Breckenridge, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BKD

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain bank control and adequate altitude during the approach, which resulted in his failure to maintain the runway heading and a subsequent collision with trees and terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during approach, about 500ft above the ground and 81 knots he, "felt the descent rate increase significantly." The pilot increased engine power, but "the high rate of descent continued" and he increased the engine power further. A slow left roll developed, and he applied full right aileron and full right rudder to arrest the left roll. Additionally, he reduced the engine power and the left roll stopped. The pilot regained control of the airplane, but the airplane's heading was 45° left of the runway heading and the airplane collided with mesquite trees and subsequently the terrain. The airplane caught fire and the pilot and passenger exited through the emergency exit. The airplane sustained substantial damage to windscreens and fuselage. 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, during the approach and while the airplane was about 500 ft above ground level and 81 knots, he "felt the descent rate increase significantly." The pilot increased engine power, but "the high rate of descent continued," and he then increased the engine power further. A slow left roll developed, and he applied full right aileron and full right rudder to arrest the left roll. He also reduced the engine power, and the left roll stopped. The pilot regained control of the airplane, but the airplane's heading was 45° left of the runway heading, and the airplane impacted trees and then terrain. The airplane caught fire, and the pilot and passenger exited through the emergency exit. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreens and fuselage. 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-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA20CA013.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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