What happened
During a flight intended for a tailwheel endorsement, a pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) traveled to a dry lakebed to perform additional takeoffs and landings. Prior to arriving at the lakebed, the crew had practiced numerous operations at their departure airport.
During the final landing, as the aircraft was transitioning from a wheel landing position, the pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to clear a stick positioned on the ground. While the instructor noted that the original rollout path would have cleared the obstacle, the maneuver was executed to ensure extra clearance. The pilot subsequently attempted to correct the movement with left rudder but overcompensated.
Although the CFI announced that he had control of the aircraft, the student pilot did not remove his hands from the control yoke or his feet from the rudder pedals. As the Cessna (type not specified in source) slowed, it underwent two left-to-right oscillations. During the second rightward oscillation, the right wing lifted and the aircraft moved onto its left main tire. The instructor applied left aileron and left rudder, but the aircraft continued to the right. The instructor applied the left brake, but the aircraft underwent a ground loop and nosed over onto its back. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
The instructor provided a written statement detailing the sequence of events, noting that the pilot's overcorrection during the realignment maneuver led to the loss of control.