Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI97LA013

ALLIANCE, NE, USA

Aircraft #1

N3939Z

Piper PA-18

Analysis

The instructor-pilot reported that the airspeed was a 'little fast' during the landing transition. At touchdown the airplane started veering right. Then the student overcorrected and the aircraft veered off the runway to the left. The instructor-pilot reported that he came on the controls; the airplane entered a ground loop and the left wing impacted the ground.

Factual Information

On October 23, 1996, at 1630 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N3939Z, was substantially damaged when the pilot lost control of the airplane during landing. The instructor pilot was unable to take control of the aircraft from the student pilot and prevent the aircraft from a ground loop. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed the Alliance Municipal Airport, Alliance, Nebraska, on a local training flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The instructor pilot reported that the airspeed was a "little fast" during the landing transition. At touchdown the airplane started veering right, but then the student pilot overcorrected and the aircraft veered off the runway to the left. The instructor pilot reported that he came on the controls. He reported that the airplane entered a ground loop and the left wing impacted the ground.

Probable Cause and Findings

the instructor-pilot's inadequate supervision by not taking timely action after the student started losing directional control. A factor was the loss of directional control by the student pilot.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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