Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that he was landing on a dirt runway and noted that there was a lightly gusting 5- to 7-knot left crosswind. He set the flaps to 20 degrees and landed. He said that when the airplane touched down, the left landing gear wheel contacted the runway first then the right landing gear wheel. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped to the left into the wind, causing the right wing to dip down and contact the ground.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he was landing on a dirt runway and noted that there was a lightly gusting 5- to 7-knot left crosswind. He set the flaps to 20 degrees and landed. The tail wheel airplane's left landing gear wheel contacted the runway first then the right landing gear wheel. During the landing roll, the airplane ground looped left, into the wind, causing the right wing to dip down and contact the ground.