Casualties unknown

Piper Aircraft Sustains Left Wing Damage After Ground Loop in Georgia (N8680D)

Thomaston, GA, US

On June 3, 2002, a Piper PA-18A-150 (registration N8680D) operated by Barbara's Banners was involved in an aviation accident near Thomaston, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control on landing, resulting in an inadvertent 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 Piper aircraft experienced a ground loop during landing at a private airport in Thomaston, Georgia, resulting in structural damage to the left wing assembly which was discovered after the pilot returned to Griffin.

What happened

The incident occurred when an airplane executed a landing at a private airport located in Thomaston, Georgia. During the rollout phase of the landing, the aircraft ground-looped. This loss of directional control resulted in the left wing striking the ground surface.

Despite sustaining this impact, the pilot maintained control of the situation and continued the flight from Thomaston to Griffin. Upon arrival at Griffin, a post-flight inspection was conducted by the pilot. The examination revealed that the left wing assembly had sustained structural damage as a result of the earlier ground loop event.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020612X00872. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.