Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to compensate for the wind condition during landing. A factor is a tailwind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot lost directional control of the airplane after touchdown. The airplane veered off the runway and collapsed the main landing gear. The approach and the touchdown were made with a quartering tail wind. The landing runway was runway 02, and the reported winds were 250 dedrees at 10 knots. No aircraft mechanical problems were reported by the pilot.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 19, 1994, at 1515 eastern standard time, a Boeing (Stearman) PT-17, N57TH, ground looped, veered off the left side of the runway, and collapsed the left main landing gear, while attempting a landing on runway 2L at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, Chamblee, Georgia. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Chamblee, at 1445 hours. According to the pilot, he lost control of the airplane after touchdown. He further stated that the nose of the airplane started turning to the left and continued until it was 180 degrees from the landing magnetic heading. The approach and the landing were made with a 10 knot quartering tail wind. No mechanical problems were reported with the airplane. -