Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing which led to a ground-loop.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that upon landing the tailwheel equipped airplane swerved to the left and he applied right rudder and brake to correct. The airplane then ground looped to the right before coming to a stop. The pilot was able to taxi to parking. The pilot believed that the left tire of the airplane was flat which caused him to lose directional control of the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the runway revealed that skid marks were produced by both main landing gear tires at various times before the ground-loop occurred, and that the left tire was not flat until it was side-loaded during the event. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.