Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control resulting in the inadvertent ground loop. A factor was the instructor's failure to take remedial action on a timely manner.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the third landing, the airplane swerved to the right during the landing rollout. The private pilot receiving instruction attempted to abort the landing by adding full power and applying full left rudder. The instructor pilot told the pilot to close the throttle. The instructor stated that the pilot failed to relinquish the controls and directional control was lost. The private pilot reported that the instructor did not attempt to take control of the airplane and only asked for the power reduction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 3, 1993, at 1100 mountain daylight time, a Maule M-5-200C, N16CB, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing at the Front Range Airport, near Watkins, Colorado. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight. According to the operator, during the third landing of the instructional period, the airplane swerved to the right during the landing roll. The pilot elected to abort the landing and applied full power as he applied full left rudder. As soon as he added power, the instructor started to tell the pilot to close the throttle and continue the landing roll. The pilot stated that he reduced the power and then lost control of the airplane, ground looping off the runway. The instructor pilot stated that the pilot failed to relinquish the controls of the airplane. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained structural damage after it dug into the ground. -