N7969C – NORTH AMERICAN SNJ – 2017-04-20 NTSB Accident Report

On April 20, 2017, a North American SNJ (N7969C) was involved in an incident near Van Nuys, CA. 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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll with a quartering tailwind.

The pilot reported that as the tailwheel was contacting the ground, a "sudden gust of wind" lifted the right wing and the airplane weathervaned to the right. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped and exited the right side of the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron.

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

The automated weather observation system on the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 270° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA242. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7969C.