Aviat A-1C-180 N317MA

Summary

On 4 July 2015 at about 18:00 local time, a Aviat A-1C-180 registered N317MA was involved in an accident near Comanche, Oklahoma, United States. 2 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

4 July 2015 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Comanche, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Wildlife Ranch (Pvt.) (None)

Coordinates

34.3133, -97.9964

Aircraft

Aviat A-1C-180

Registration

N317MA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Comanche → Comanche

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA165

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain proper pitch control during touchdown, which resulted in a nose over and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was attempting a wheel landing in a tailwheel airplane at his private grass air strip. During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced once, settled back to the runway, and then suddenly nosed forward and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he did not know why the airplane nosed over, but suspected the pilot rated passenger in the rear seat may have manipulated the flight controls in some manner. During a postaccident interview, the pilot rated passenger seated in the rear seat stated that he remained clear of the rudder pedals and flight controls for the entire flight. The passenger also reported that he observed the flight controls move abruptly to the full aft position just prior to the nose over. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a post-flight examination, the rudder and right wing were found to be substantially damaged. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.