Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing flare with a quartering tailwind.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he was flying a tail-wheel equipped airplane and conducting his second landing at a back country airstrip. During the landing flare, the airplane floated longer than expected and was starting to drift to the left side of the runway. The pilot added full power to go around when the left main landing gear struck a bush and the airplane turned sideways. The right landing gear collapsed and the right wing was substantially damaged when it struck the ground. The pilot reported that after exiting the airplane he noticed that the wind was a gusting right quartering tailwind. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13CA256 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 1, 2013
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Payson, Arizona
- Nearest airport
- Red Creek (N/A)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cub Crafters Inc CC11-100
- N-number
- N787AK
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.