Aviat Aircraft INC A-1 accident near Gunnison, Colorado, September 6, 2021
On September 6, 2021 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1997 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1, registered N6XC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Gunnison, Colorado (Gunnison-Crested Butte Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2021 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gunnison, Colorado · Gunnison-Crested Butte Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1, built 1997 · all A-1s on the register
- Registration
- N6XC · registry record · serial 1383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he landed with a quartering tailwind. When the tailwheel touched down, the wind pushed the tail to the right and the airplane ground looped. The airplane came to rest upright off the left side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 318.5 hours in all; 21.8 in this make and model; 55.4 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 318.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,257.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 12,989 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rustler Canyon UT at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 2,981 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KGUC
Weather report (METAR): KGUC 061956Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 26/M02 A3035 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02561017
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA403.