On May 5, 1994, a North American T-6G (registration N3715G) was involved in an aviation accident near Prairie DU Sac, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent nose-over after the main gear entered a freshly plowed field. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel aircraft ground-looped to the right during landing roll on runway 18. The pilot stopped the loop, but the main gear dug into a freshly plowed field, causing the airplane to nose over.
What happened
The pilot reported circling the airport before executing a low pass prior to attempting a landing on runway 18. During the subsequent landing roll, as the tailwheel settled onto the pavement, the aircraft began to ground loop toward the right side. The pilot successfully regained control and stopped the ground loop; however, the airplane continued forward into a freshly plowed field adjacent to the runway. The main gear sank into the soft terrain, resulting in the aircraft nosing over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the immediate circumstances of the landing roll and the subsequent impact with the terrain. Examination confirmed that the main landing gear penetrated the surface of a freshly plowed field after the ground loop was arrested. No mechanical failures or pre-impact malfunctions were identified as contributing factors to the loss of directional control.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and subsequent nose-over after the main gear entered a freshly plowed field.