Summary
On September 12, 2018, a Aviat A1 (N868X) was involved in an accident near Bentonville, AR. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: 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.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA549. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N868X.
Accident Details
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.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA549