Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-180 accident near Harlingen, Texas, May 1, 2016
On May 1, 2016 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2008 Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-180, registered N13BF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Harlingen, Texas (Valley Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the right wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2016 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Harlingen, Texas · Valley Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1C-180 UNDESIGNAT, built 2008 · all A-1C-180s on the register
- Registration
- N13BF · registry record · serial 3021
- 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 bounced once during the landing touchdown in crosswind conditions, and subsequently ground looped to the left. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway. An automated weather observing system, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 080 degrees true at 14 knots, for the landing on runway 17 left. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 67R Rio Grande City TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: HRL Harlingen TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L, 5,949 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,700 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from KHRL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N13BF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 GAA16CA225.