Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot, who was flying a tailwheel-equipped airplane, was performing a full-stop landing on a paved runway. Although his touchdown was uneventful, he reported that, during the landing roll, he lost control of the airplane when he encountered a crosswind of about 10 knots. After the pilot lost control, the airplane ground looped, and the left wing struck the runway with sufficient force to bend the wing spars. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions of the airplane's directional control system.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot, who was flying a tailwheel-equipped airplane, was performing a full-stop landing on a paved runway. Although his touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll he lost control of the airplane when he encountered a crosswind of about 10 knots. After the pilot lost control, the airplane ground looped, and the left wing struck the runway with sufficient force to bend the wing spars. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions of the airplane's directional control system.