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WPR24LA089

2024-02-10 · Madera, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport E45

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported observing a dark layer of cloud just after takeoff and decided to avoid and return to the departure airport. When the airplane main landing gear contacted the ground, the pilot stated that the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway and nosed over before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_WPR24LA089.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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