Casualties unknown

Student Pilot Overcorrection Leads to Ground Loop During Landing (N3939Z)

Alliance, NE, US

On October 23, 1996, a Piper PA-18 (registration N3939Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Alliance, NE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Student pilot's improper use of flight controls during landing, resulting in a ground loop. 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

A student pilot's overcorrection after veering right at touchdown caused a ground loop, resulting in left wing impact with the ground during training flight.

What happened

The incident occurred during a landing phase of a training flight. The instructor-pilot noted that the airspeed was slightly high during the transition to landing. Upon touchdown, the aircraft began to veer toward the right side of the runway. The student pilot attempted to correct this deviation but overcorrected, causing the aircraft to swing sharply to the left and leave the paved surface.

The investigation

Following the departure from the runway, the instructor-pilot took control of the aircraft. However, the airplane entered a ground loop maneuver. During this uncontrolled rotation, the left wing struck the ground, resulting in structural damage to that area of the airframe.

Findings

The sequence of events indicates that excessive speed during the landing transition contributed to directional instability at touchdown. The primary factor was the student pilot's overcorrection, which led to loss of control and subsequent ground loop. No injuries were reported among the occupants.

Probable cause

Student pilot's improper use of flight controls during landing, resulting in a ground loop.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X06859. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.