Great Lakes 2T 1A 2 accident near Dayton, Ohio, October 22, 2017
On October 22, 2017 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1984 Great Lakes 2T 1A 2, registered N7GL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Dayton, Ohio (Greene County-Lewis A Jackson 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2017 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dayton, Ohio · Greene County-Lewis A Jackson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T 1A 2 2, built 1984 · all 2T 1A 2s on the register
- Registration
- N7GL · no longer on the register · serial 1009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped biplane, he was unable to determine the wind direction during his approach. He circled the airport multiple times and attempted to communicate on the common advisory traffic frequency. During the landing roll on the runway, the biplane experienced an "unexpected turn to (the) left similar to being weathercocked." The biplane exited the left side of the runway and continued across descending terrain before it nosed over. The METAR nearest to the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 170° at 16 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The biplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the biplane 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 960 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 15, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A (piston); 142 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I19 Dayton OH at 7:00 pm
- Destination: I19 Dayton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from KFFO, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 2, 2018. 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 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.