Casualties unknown

Aircraft Groundloops After Bounced Landing (N14064)

Versailles, MO, US

On July 21, 1995, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N14064) was involved in an aviation accident near Versailles, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll following a bounced landing, which resulted in a groundloop. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

The pilot reported the airplane bounced on touchdown. When the airplane touched down a second time, it was not aligned with the runway, and a 270 degree right groundloop resulted.

What happened

The flight ended when the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control during the landing roll. The pilot reported that the airplane bounced on initial touchdown. Upon attempting to correct for the bounce, the aircraft touched down a second time out of alignment with the runway centerline.

This misalignment triggered a 270 degree right groundloop. During the uncontrolled rotation, the left wingtip contacted the dirt alongside the runway, and the landing light was struck by debris or ground contact before the airplane finally came to rest.

The investigation

The physical evidence indicated significant damage to the left side of the airframe. The left wingtip had been dragged along the surface adjacent to the runway pavement. Additionally, the landing light assembly sustained impact damage consistent with striking the ground or foreign object debris during the violent yawing motion.

Findings

The primary factor in this incident was the failure to maintain directional control after a bounced landing. The sequence of events suggests that the pilot's reaction to the bounce resulted in an off-centerline touchdown, which exceeded the aircraft's ability to remain aligned with the runway using rudder and brake inputs alone.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll following a bounced landing, which resulted in a groundloop.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X03909. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.