Amateur-built OUTBACK accident near Dalton, Ohio, September 3, 2016
On September 3, 2016 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built OUTBACK, registered N56P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Dalton, Ohio. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2016 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dalton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built OUTBACK SERIES5, built 2002
- Registration
- N56P · registry record · serial S9910-0226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane stated that during landing, the airplane did not want to "settle" to the runway due to gusting winds. He further stated that upon touchdown the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather from an automated weather observation station located about 10 miles to the northwest, showed that about 15 minutes before the accident the wind was variable at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, and few clouds at 4700 feet above ground level. However, the pilot reported the wind at the accident site as 170 degrees true, 8 knots, gusts to 20 knots, and he was landing runway 18.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
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
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,157 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 1,066 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 16, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-240B4B (piston); 550 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TSO Carrollton OH at 6:00 pm
- Destination: None Dalton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KBJJ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 1, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.