Aviat A1 accident near Grand Island, Nebraska, September 18, 2018
On September 18, 2018 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2004 Aviat A1, registered N811YD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Grand Island, Nebraska (Central Nebraska Rgnl 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 tailwind and crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2018 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Island, Nebraska · Central Nebraska Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 B, built 2004
- Registration
- N811YD · registry record · serial 2278
- 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 reported that, during the second flight of the day, which was a 3 hour 30 minute flight, the tower controller at the destination airport instructed him to land on runway 35. During the landing roll, he lost directional control, the airplane ground looped to the right, and the left wing impacted the ground. The pilot added that he believed the accident was the result of fatigue. He added that he should have requested runway 13, which would have reduced the crosswind component, rather than accept the assigned runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station at the airport reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 100° at 12 knots. The same automated station reported that, about 23 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 100° at 12 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airplane landed on runway 35.
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 defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) 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
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,030.5 hours in all; 896 in this make and model; 61.7 in the last 90 days; 38.5 in the last 30 days; 916.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 701 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HSR Hot Springs SD at 7:00 pm
- Destination: GRI Grand Island NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 7,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 12 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KGRI, 1 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 December 17, 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 | Accident Photo | 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.