On March 21, 1985, a Piper PA 18-150 (registration N2582S) was involved in an aviation accident near Grand Forks, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent damage to the left wing spar. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Piper PA-18 Super Cub ground looped during landing rollout at Grand Forks, North Dakota, on March 21, 1985, while an instructor was checking out another flight instructor. The left wing spar bent.
What happened
On March 21, 1985, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub experienced a ground loop during the landing rollout at Grand Forks, North Dakota. The aircraft was involved in a training maneuver where an instructor was conducting a checkout for another flight instructor. During the landing roll out, the airplane deviated from the intended path, described by the instructor as having "got away" from the student instructor seated in the front seat. The aircraft ground looped to the right, resulting in structural damage.
The investigation
Post-acc examination of the Piper PA-18 revealed that the left wing spar was bent due to the forces generated during the ground loop. No other mechanical failures were cited as contributing factors in the immediate narrative provided.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent damage to the left wing spar.
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