Casualties unknown

Hard Landing and Ground Loop During Touch-and-Go (N91003)

Scottsdale, AZ, US

On August 21, 2000, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N91003) operated by Howard C. Fisk was involved in an aviation accident near Scottsdale, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on the landing rollout. Also causal to the accident was his failure to retract flaps during the aborted landing attempt, which lead to a loss of lift and a hard landing followed by 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

An airplane experienced a hard landing and ground loop during landing rollout. The pilot aborted and attempted a go-around but did not retract flaps, resulting in a second hard landing.

Incident Summary

During the landing rollout, the airplane landed hard and ground looped. Wind lifted the right wing and landing gear, causing the airplane to veer left. The pilot applied rudder input to level the airplane and regain directional control.

Sequence of Events

The pilot, concerned about an imminent ground loop, aborted the landing by adding full power. However, the flaps were not retracted during the go-around. Once airborne, the pilot maneuvered to avoid a taxi light and attempted to realign with the runway heading. The airplane subsequently lost lift and landed hard.

Post-incident inspection revealed no mechanical malfunctions with the flight control (rudder) or brake systems. The pilot reported no anomalies with these systems.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X21780. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.