On July 20, 2000, a Boeing PT17 (registration N57851) was involved in an aviation accident near Easton, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground-looping incident. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft ground-looped while attempting to land on the runway. The airplane veered off the left side of the paved surface and struck a sign before coming to rest in the adjacent grassy area.
What happened
The pilot reported that during the landing phase, the airplane experienced a ground-looping event. As the aircraft traveled off the left side of the runway, the lower portion of the left wing made contact with a runway sign. The airplane eventually came to rest in the grass adjacent to the airfield.
The investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted an examination of the airplane following the incident. This inspection did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or defects that would have contributed to the event. Additionally, the pilot reported no prior issues with the aircraft's systems or operation.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a ground-looping incident.