Accident Details
A commercial pilot was landing a single-engine airplane on a remote tidal beach. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left, toward the water, and the pilot was unable to correct the veer. The airplane ground looped to the left, causing the right main landing gear leg to collapse. The right wing subsequently struck the beach surface, sustaining substantial damage.
Pilot's Statement
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot wrote, in part: "I suspect the tail wheel malfunctioned." No additional details regarding the nature of the suspected malfunction were provided.
Damage Assessment
Following the accident, the airplane was not recovered before being subjected to numerous tide cycles. The repeated exposure to tidal forces caused extensive additional damage to the airframe, complicating postaccident inspection. The right wing had already sustained substantial impact damage from the ground loop.