Probable cause
The low cycle fatigue failure of the tail wheel spring during landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot aborted a landing after the tail wheel spring fractured. The pilot attempted another landing by keeping the tail off the runway surface until the airspeed decreased. When the tail contacted the runway, the airplane veered and ground looped. The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the tail wheel spring revealed a low cycle fatigue fracture.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10LA506 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 21, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Aurora, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Aurora Municipal Airport (ARR)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built DR107
- N-number
- N123TA
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.