N945PL – SIMMONS NOEL SDL – 2016-08-23 NTSB Accident Report

On August 23, 2016, a Simmons Noel SDL (N945PL) was involved in an incident near Naches, WA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he made an approach to a dirt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane bounced during the touch down, and when it settled back to the runway the airplane's heading was not aligned with the runway heading. He recalled the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The left wing ribs and aileron sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA16CA452. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N945PL.