No fatalities

Biplane Inverted After Landing Swerve

Canon City, CO, United States

On January 28, 2017, a GREAT LAKES 2T1A 2 was involved in an aviation accident near Canon City, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unstabilized approach. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that after an extended final and slip, her biplane swerved right on landing, veered off the runway, and came to rest inverted, with substantial empennage damage.

Accident Sequence

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that she extended her downwind leg due to other aircraft in the traffic pattern. While on the extended final approach, she placed the biplane in a slip. During the slip, she noted that the windsock was not visible. As she flared for landing, she observed that her groundspeed was higher than normal. Approximately 800 feet after touchdown, the biplane suddenly swerved to the right. She attempted to correct the swerve with rudder inputs, but the biplane departed the runway surface and eventually came to rest inverted.

Damage

The biplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 28 Jan 2017 GREAT LAKES 2T1A 2 accident near Canon City, CO?

A pilot reported that after an extended final and slip, her biplane swerved right on landing, veered off the runway, and came to rest inverted, with substantial empennage damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 28 Jan 2017 GREAT LAKES 2T1A 2 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 28 Jan 2017 involved a GREAT LAKES 2T1A 2, at Canon City, CO.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s unstabilized approach.