Primary finding
Probable cause
the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight and the failure of both pilots to maintain directional control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The aircraft owner stated that he took delivery of the aircraft that morning and hired a flight instructor to accompany him back to his home airport because he had no experience in conventional gear aircraft. The pilot said the instructor was talking him through a landing on runway 17 and shortly after touchdown the aircraft began veering to the right. The instructor applied a left rudder correction and the aircraft ground looped to the left.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 30, 1995, at 1530 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N91008, ground looped on landing at Yuma, Arizona. The aircraft was owned and operated by the private pilot, who purchased the aircraft that morning. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Neither the private pilot nor the commercial pilot/flight instructor onboard were injured. The flight originated at Tucson, Arizona, on the day of the accident at 1200 as a combined cross-country delivery and dual instructional flight for the new owner. In a telephone interview, the new owner stated that he took delivery of the aircraft that morning and hired a flight instructor to accompany him back to his home airport because he had no experience in conventional gear aircraft. The pilot said the instructor was talking him through a landing on runway 17 and shortly after touchdown the aircraft began veering to the right. The instructor applied a left rudder correction and the aircraft ground looped to the left. The aircraft incurred structural damage to the right wing spar. -