# NTSB CEN21LA403: Aviat A-1, N6XC, Gunnison, CO, September 6, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 6, 2021, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Gunnison, CO
- Coordinates: 38.528213, -106.93972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5282&lon=-106.9397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA403
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103808/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103808
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA403

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing with a quartering tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he landed with a quartering tailwind. When the tailwheel touched down, the wind pushed the tail to the right and the airplane ground looped. The airplane came to rest upright off the left side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6XC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6XC), registered now, S/N 1383, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1
- Registry model: [Aviat A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (registry code 2210400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1383
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 1257.4
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2021
- Departed: Rustler Canyon, UT
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GUC, Gunnison-Crested Butte Rgnl, runway 17/35, 2,981 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 318.5 total, 21.8 in this make and model, 318.5 as pilot in command, 55.4 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 4.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observed at: KGUC
- METAR: KGUC 061956Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 26/M02 A3035 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02561017

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20210906015409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210906015409A), Sep 6, 2021: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1, Gunnison, CO, Substantial damage. Accident occurred on 09/06/2021 on turf/gravel rwy 35 at Gunnison airport Colorado 81230. Elevation 7680?. NWS wx for kguc between 13:56 and 14:56 winds were…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103808. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12760423&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport operations report (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12760600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20ops%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 871 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12812767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Photos-Rel.pdf

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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