Pilot Debrief

BOEING E75 near Centerville, TN — 2017-08-18

Final reportGAA17CA504
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Date
2017-08-18
Location
Centerville, TN, USA
Airport
GHM
Aircraft
BOEING E75
Registration
N4859N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during the landing roll before stopping, the tailwheel-equipped biplane "made a sudden move to [the] left." He added that the flight instructor's quick reactions kept the biplane on the runway and going straight. The pilot then regained control of the biplane, and the left wing dropped and "despite corrective inputs on the controls would not respond to further control inputs," and the airplane then ground looped to the right. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the biplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The biplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that "it was [his] personal contention and belief that the upper left gear failed[,] resulting in substantial damage to the [biplane] and the resultant ground loop." He added that "[he] did not believe that this particular incident could have been prevented." A review of a video of the accident showed, in part, a loss of control early in the landing roll, followed by a subsequent loss of control and ground loop to the right.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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