Cessna 195 N1008D accident near Socorro, New Mexico

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while landing with a quartering tailwind.

NTSB analysis

The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport for landing, the wind was reported as calm. During landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down fast and bounced. When the airplane settled back onto the runway, it started to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and brakes; the left brake went all the way down and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and ground looped, and the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The pilot reported that when he exited the airplane, he noticed that the wind had increased. Examination of the brake system did not reveal any anomalies.

Review of recorded weather observations from the accident airport indicated that, about the time of the accident, quartering tailwind conditions existed for the pilot’s chosen runway, with a tailwind component of about 8 knots and a right crosswind component of about 3 knots. Given this information, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR19LA153 for the full record.