Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. Before landing the airplane, the pilot observed the surface winds were 90 degrees to the landing runway. During the landing roll, the pilot lost directional control and ground looped when he attempted to go-around.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 28, 1994, at 1112 hours Pacific daylight time, a North American/Barone P-51-D, N4451C, lost control and ground looped during the landing roll on runway 18 at Southern California Airport, Victorville, California. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Barone Bros. Partnership, San Bernardino, California, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated commercial pilot nor his passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Apple Valley Airport, Apple Valley, California, at 1055 hours. The pilot reported in the accident report that when he flew over the airport he observed the winds were from the right at 90 degrees to the landing runway. While on final approach to runway 18, the pilot observed that the surface winds were stronger at the runway threshold. The pilot landed the airplane on its wheels in a right wing-down attitude. The pilot applied power to execute a go-around, but the airplane turned to the left and ground looped. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft. -