Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A related factor was the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
On rollout after a landing the airplane ground looped. The pilot said that he lost directional control due to the cross wind. The airplane landed on runway 31R. A weather observation taken at the airport 13 minutes after the accident indicated the wind to be from 250 degrees at 9 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 26, 1997, at 1340 central standard time, an Avid Flyer C, N931AC, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a landing on runway 31R (3,263' X 75' dry/asphalt), at Crystal Airport, near Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The pilot said that the he encountered a cross wind and the airplane ground looped. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the flight which departed Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, about 1330. The pilot told inspectors was that he lost directional control of his airplane when he encountered a cross wind during rollout after landing.. The airplane was landed on runway 31R at Crystal airport at 1340. A weather observation taken at the same airport 13 minutes after the accident indicated the prevailing wind to be 250 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot's total time in this airplane make and model was shown as 16 hours on his written statement. -