No fatalities

14 Oct 2019: AEROPRO CZ A220 — Redpole LLC — Buckeye, AZ

Buckeye, AZ, United States

On 14 Oct 2019, an AEROPRO CZ A220 operated by Redpole LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Buckeye, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted landing with a crosswind, which resulted in tailwheel impacting vegetation and the left main landing gear collapsing. 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 an aborted landing in crosswind conditions, a tailwheel-equipped airplane drifted right, struck brush, and the left main landing gear collapsed, causing substantial damage to the left wing.

Accident Description

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing attempt, the aircraft encountered crosswind gusts from the left. The pilot decided to abort the landing. However, the airplane drifted to the right and over the edge of the runway. The tailwheel subsequently struck brush located off the right side of the runway.

As a result, the airplane's airspeed decreased. The left wing "dipped into the wind." The airplane touched down on the left main landing gear, and the landing gear collapsed.

Damage and Weather

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot reported that around the time of the accident, the wind was from 90° at 9 knots. The pilot was landing on runway 17.

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedEffect on operation