Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper use of the rudder to correct the airplane's drift to the right. A factor was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During landing, the airplane encountered what the pilot described as a light, left crosswind. He said he corrected for the crosswind by lowering the left wing and applying opposite rudder to keep the nose straight. He said the airplane began drifting (skipping) to the right. He then applied full left rudder and the airplane ground looped to the right. The onscene investigation found the left wing main spar and skin had wrinkles in them, and the left main landing gear leg was protruding through the right wing.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 28, 1996, at 1922 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 188, N5708G, piloted by a commercially certificated pilot, was substantially damaged during landing when it ground looped and collided with the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed Napoleon, North Dakota, at 1800 cdt. The pilot said he was making a wheel landing with a light, left, crosswind. He said the airplane's left wing raised due to a gust of wind. A second wind gust caused the airplane to begin skipping to the right, according to the pilot. He said he applied full left rudder without any additional left aileron. The pilot said the airplane ground lopped a short time later. The left main landing gear separated from the fuselage. The left wing skin and spar has wrinkles in it, and the left main gear leg is protruding through the right wing from the bottom. -