Primary finding
Probable cause
was the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in the airplane departing the runway, striking a light, and ground looped.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After landing the pilot stated, the airplane did a 'slight bounce in a wheel landing attitude.' the pilot executed a go- around, retracted the flaps, and started to climb. According to the pilot's statement the airplane, 'settled when out of ground effect, direction control could not be maintained with rudder....' the airplane departed the left side of the runway, struck a light, crossed over the runway to the right side, and ground looped.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 3, 1994, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Globe- Swift GC-1A, N81LM, registered and piloted by Dennis Agin, struck a runway location light after a bounced landing at the Ohio State University Airport, Columbus, Ohio. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, after touchdown the airplane did a "slight bounce in a wheel landing attitude." The pilot wrote that he executed a go- around, retracted the flaps, and started to climb. According to the pilot's statement: ...initiated a slow climb, settled when out of ground effect, direction control could not be maintained with rudder, struck light (with wheel?).... According to FAA Inspector, William Mazureck's report, after landing on runway 27R, the airplane bounced twice and the pilot, "decided to go around." Mr. Mazureck wrote: He added takeoff power. When he thought he had adequate airspeed he retracted the flaps....he settled back down and lost directional control. Off the runway and pointing about 30 degrees left of the runway direction the left main gear touched the ground. The aircraft struck a runway location light for runway 14-32...and ground looped.... -