Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary GAA18CA549

Bentonville, AR, USA

Aircraft #1

N868X

Aviat A1

Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced. The airplane then bounced again twice and veered left of the centerline, and he applied "stick back" to pin the tail down. He then applied full throttle to go around but did not relieve the back pressure on the stick. Subsequently, the airplane pitched up in a "very high" angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin and subsequent impact with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual Information

The pilot reported that, during landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced. The airplane then bounced two additional times and veered left of the centerline, and he applied "stick back" to pin the tail down. He then applied full throttle to go around, but did not relieve the back pressure on the stick. Subsequently, the airplane pitched up in a "very high" angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin, and the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an attempted go-around after the airplane bounced, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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