Curtiss-Wright TRAVEL AIR N9872

Summary

On 14 November 2015 at about 22:46 local time, a Curtiss-Wright TRAVEL AIR registered N9872, operated by FUN Flights LLC, was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, California, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 November 2015 at 22:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlsbad, California, United States

Nearest airport

Mc Clellan-Palomar (CRQ)

Coordinates

33.1283, -117.2800

Aircraft

Curtiss-Wright TRAVEL AIR

Registration

N9872

Category

Airplane

Year built

1929

Engines

1

Operator

FUN Flights LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carlsbad → Carlsbad

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA049

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a ground-loop, and substantial damage to the right wing and wing strut.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane, during the fourth landing roll of the day, the airplane "fish tailed" to the right and he was not able to maintain directional control. The airplane ground looped to the left on the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed and the lower right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.