Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DEN02LA077

Hurricane, UT, USA

Aircraft #1

N6383H

Cessna 150L

Analysis

The pilot made a full-flap landing but before the tail wheel touched down, the airplane began drifting to the side of the runway. He attempted to recover by applying full power but the airplane ground looped and went off the right side of the runway, tearing off the left main landing gear and damaging the engine mount, left wing, left aileron, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that at the time of the accident, the wind was calm.

Factual Information

On July 19, 2002, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150L, was substantially damaged when it ground looped on landing at Grassy Meadows Airport, Hurricane, Utah. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at St. George, Utah, at 1145 MDT. According to a telephone conversation with the pilot and his subsequent accident report, he made a full-flap landing but before the tail wheel touched down, the airplane began drifting to the side of the runway. He attempted to recover by applying full power but the airplane ground looped and went off the right side of the runway, tearing off the left main landing gear. Damage was also sustained to the propeller blades, engine mount, left wing and aileron, fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and transponder antenna. The pilot indicated that at the time of the accident, the wind was calm.

Probable Cause and Findings

pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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