Right wing scrape during landing in tailwheel aircraft

Casualties unknown • Juneau, AK, US

A pilot experienced a wing scrape on a hard surfaced runway while attempting to land a modified tailwheel airplane during a crosswind.

What happened

The pilot was operating a tailwheel airplane equipped with oversized 'Tundra' tires during an approach to a hard surfaced runway. During the landing flare, the pilot identified a crosswind originating from the right side of the aircraft. In an attempt to compensate for the drift caused by this wind, the pilot executed a technique to place the upwind tire on the runway first.

Upon touchdown, the airplane made contact with the right main tire first. The pilot reported feeling initial drift followed by the aircraft veering toward the left. During this maneuver, the right wing scraped the runway before the pilot successfully brought the aircraft to a complete stop. The incident resulted in no injuries, though the aircraft sustained damage to the right wing and the right main tire was found to be flat.

The investigation

A postaccident inspection of the right wheel assembly was conducted. This examination revealed no evidence of any mechanical anomaly prior to the accident.

Probable cause

The pilot's use of improper crosswind landing techniques.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1996-05-20 Cessna A-185-F accident near Juneau, AK?

A pilot experienced a wing scrape on a hard surfaced runway while attempting to land a modified tailwheel airplane during a crosswind.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-05-20 involved a Cessna A-185-F, registration N56581, operated by National Park Service, at Juneau, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's use of improper crosswind landing techniques.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05693. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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