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Atlas / NTSB / WPR24LA026

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR24LA026

2023-10-13 Fairfield, Utah, United States Airport · UT9 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N866SA

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

ZLIN AVIATION SRO SAVAGE

Year of manufacture

2007 · 16 years old at event

Engine

ROTAX 912ULS SERIES (100 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20160901

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S ABE6B2

Registrant of record

STILLMAN CALEB

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was distracted by a sick passenger during the landing. The pilot subsequently lost control of the airplane on the landing rollout, and the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. 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

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR24LA026.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.