No fatalities

24 Oct 2016: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C 180 — Placerville, CA

Placerville, CA, United States

On 24 Oct 2016, an AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C 180 was involved in an aviation accident near Placerville, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusty crosswind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing roll, a gust of wind pushed a tailwheel airplane to the runway edge; the pilot aborted landing, but the airplane struck an airport fence, causing substantial damage.

Accident Overview

A tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced an incident during landing when a wind gust caused a runway excursion, leading to a collision with an airport perimeter fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage.

Event Details

The pilot, who held a tailwheel endorsement and was receiving additional instruction from an appropriately rated flight instructor acting as a safety pilot, reported that during the landing roll before the tail settled to the runway, a gust of wind "pushed" the airplane to the right edge of the runway. In response, the pilot attempted to abort the landing to avoid parked aircraft. Subsequently, the airplane impacted an airport perimeter fence during the aborted landing.

The impact resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the right aileron, and the rudder. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Weather Information

A review of local weather around the time of the incident recorded wind from 180 degrees true at 12 knots, with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot had been landing on runway 23.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcomeEffect on operation