On July 26, 1999, a Boeing A-75-N1 (STEARMAN) (registration N56772) operated by Thomas C. Lambrick was involved in an aviation accident near Tooele, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop, due to a failure of the right main tire inner tube. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot lost directional control after a bounced landing and subsequent right main tire failure, resulting in a ground loop to the left on runway 34.
What happened
During the final approach for a landing on runway 34, the pilot executed a touchdown on the main wheels. Shortly after contact with the pavement, the aircraft bounced once before veering sharply to the right. In an attempt to regain control, the pilot applied significant left rudder input to realign the nose with the runway centerline. Despite these efforts, the airplane subsequently ground looped to the left.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed a critical mechanical failure contributing to the loss of control. Inspection of the right main landing gear tire showed that its inner tube had failed. This failure likely compromised the pilot's ability to maintain directional stability during the critical phase of the landing rollout.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop, due to a failure of the right main tire inner tube.