On April 5, 1996, a Stinson 108-3 (registration N6179M) was involved in an aviation accident near Pontiac, MI. 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 nose-over, due to wind conditions that lifted the tail and raised the right wing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft nosed over following a ground loop during landing roll, triggered by wind lifting the tail and causing the left wingtip to strike the runway surface.
What happened
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the wind caught the airplane's tail and raised the right wing. He stated the left wingtip contacted the runway and the airplane ground looped. The airplane then nosed over before coming to rest. The pilot reported that the winds were from 350 degrees at 12 knots.
The investigation
No mechanical examination details were provided in the source text.
Findings
Wind conditions: Winds from 350 degrees at 12 knots contributed to the tail lift.
Aircraft attitude: The wind caught the airplane's tail and raised the right wing.
Runway contact: The left wingtip contacted the runway during the ground loop.
Final position: The airplane nosed over before coming to rest.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and nose-over, due to wind conditions that lifted the tail and raised the right wing.