NEWBERRYPORT, MA, USA
N475C
Aviat A-1B
The pilot reported that he performed a wheel landing with a 90-degree crosswind from the left of about 8 knots. As the tail wheel was being lowered and the flaps raised, the airplane became 'squirrelly'. The pilot added power for a 'go-around', and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The airplane continued for 345 feet, until it struck a parked airplane. According to the FAA, the airplane departed the runway at a 30-degree angle and continued for 345 feet, until it struck a parked airplane. Continuous tire tracks from the airplane were observed from the runway to the accident site. A pilot rated passenger reported that he told the front seat pilot to cut the power when the airplane departed the runway. However there was no response, and he closed the throttle before impact.
On August 23, 2000, about 1645 Eastern Daylight Time, an Aviat A-1B, N475C, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at Plum Island Airport, Newberryport, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the front seat pilot and airplane owner, the flight was uneventful until he had completed a wheel landing on runway 28. The wing flaps were raised, the tail wheel was lowered, and the airplane became "squirrelly." Power was added for a "go-around". The airplane lifted momentarily, and then descended, contacted the ground, and departed the runway to the right with about a 20 to 30 degree angle. He next remembered the engine was not producing power, and the wings were level. The airplane settled to the ground, rolled, and struck a parked airplane. The pilot estimated the winds were a direct crosswind from the left at 8 knots. The pilot rated passenger in the rear seat reported that he remembered a normal landing followed by a loss of directional control. He reported that he retarded the throttled when they were about 15 feet away from the other airplane. However, he also stated that he did not touch the control stick or rudder pedals. In his written statement, the pilot rated passenger reported that he told the pilot to cut the power over the intercom multiple times, but there was no response from the pilot. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), reported the airplane departed the runway to the right at a 30 degree angle. The airplane traveled for about 345 feet before it struck a parked, unoccupied airplane, which was about 170 feet to the right side of the runway. Uninterrupted tire tracks were observed leading from the runway to the accident site. On the accident airplane, both wing spars were bent, the engine mounts, and firewall were bent.
the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during landing and a subsequent rejected landing. Factors were the crosswind, and the delayed corrective action by the pilot.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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