Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While performing practice three point landings, the airplane bounced, the left wing contacted the runway, the airplane ground looped, and departed the right side of the 5,979 foot by 100 foot runway. The left main landing gear collapsed as it contacted the ground.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 2, 1995, at 1515 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper PA-22-20, N4917Z, operated on a personal flight by Darwin Jaenicke of Kankakee, Illinois, ground looped at the Greater Kankakee airport (IKK) and sustained substantial damage. The Airline Transport rated pilot, and private pilot passenger/owner were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, winds were reported as 5 to 8 knots, and no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, originated from the Kankakee Koerner airport (3KK), Kankakee, Illinois at 1455 hours CDT, and was performing practice three point landings at IKK. During three point landing practice, the airplane bounced, contacted the left wing, and departed the right side of the 5,979 foot long by 100 foot wide asphalt runway. The left main landing gear collapsed as it contacted soft dirt, the left wing spar was damaged, and the propeller struck the ground. -