What happened
The incident occurred during a routine training session involving practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. During the second takeoff roll, the aircraft began to ground loop. The pilot reported that the loss of control coincided with the simultaneous action of raising the flaps and pushing in the carburetor heat control. No preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified by the pilot prior to the event.
The investigation
Post-incident review confirmed that the aircraft did not suffer from any technical defects before the takeoff. The pilot acknowledged that the handling error was due to improper technique during the critical phase of flight. He stated that he should have executed a full-stop landing, taxied back to the ramp, and then performed a normal takeoff procedure instead of attempting another touch-and-go.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. The simultaneous manipulation of flight controls while accelerating likely distracted the pilot or altered the aircraft's performance characteristics unexpectedly. This error led directly to the ground loop event.