On August 3, 1996, a Luscombe 8F (registration N1616Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Douglas, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The control input, together with the crosswind, resulted in over-correction and the aircraft ground looped to the right. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot performing a full-stop landing in a quartering right crosswind of about 15 knots experienced an unusual noise, glanced inside, and upon looking up found the aircraft veering left. Right rudder and brake inputs combined with the crosswind caused an overcorrection and a right ground loop.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a full-stop landing in a quartering right crosswind of approximately 15 knots, an unusual noise prompted a momentary glance into the cockpit. When the pilot looked up, the aircraft was veering to the left. In response, the pilot applied right rudder and brake.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that the landing roll was proceeding normally until the aircraft slowed to about 30 knots. At that point, the unusual noise occurred. After the pilot's attention returned outside, the aircraft's deviation to the left was apparent. The corrective inputs—right rudder and brake—were applied. However, the combination of the pilot's control input and the existing crosswind resulted in an overcorrection, causing the aircraft to ground loop to the right.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had made approximately 13 landings in this aircraft type prior to the accident. No further details about the pilot's total experience or the aircraft itself were provided in the source.
Probable cause
The control input, together with the crosswind, resulted in over-correction and the aircraft ground looped to the right.