Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground loop.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the student pilot, during the landing roll the airplane began to weathervane toward the edge of the runway and the left wing began to lift up. He added engine power in an attempt to stop the swerve; however, the airplane exited the runway and ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. At the time this report was completed, the pilot had not submitted NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report as requested.
Source record
Factual narrative
In a statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the student pilot was on a solo flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. With the winds around 3 knots the student pilot departed runway 19 for a local flight. Around 10 minutes later he returned to the airport to find that the winds had increased to 10 knots and were now favoring runway 01. Following a touchdown on runway 01, the airplane began to “weathervane” towards the edge of the runway, and the left wing began to lift up. The student pilot added engine power in an attempt to stop the swerve to no avail. The airplane exited the runway and ground looped. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuselage sustained structural damage. Additional damage consisted of a separated right landing gear, a bent propeller blade, and scrape marks on the right wingtip and elevator. At the time this report was completed, the pilot had not submitted NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report as requested.