On February 8, 1982, a Cessna 140 (registration N89047) operated by Peter M Bragg was involved in an aviation accident near Statesboro, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to a gust of wind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A gust of wind caused a student pilot's aircraft to ground loop and flip during a supervised solo landing, resulting in significant damage to the plane.
What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting a supervised solo flight. During the second landing attempt of the session, the aircraft encountered a sudden gust of wind that lifted the right wing. This aerodynamic disturbance caused the left wingtip to strike the ground.
In response to the loss of control, the student pilot applied power and initiated corrective actions. However, the aircraft continued to yaw violently, resulting in a ground loop. The plane eventually flipped over onto its back. The accident site was located in a freshly tilled and planted wheat field adjacent to the runway.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to a gust of wind.