What happened
A flight instructor and a private pilot were conducting a training flight for the purpose of obtaining a tailwheel endorsement. Following several successful takeoffs and landings, the instructor directed the pilot to perform a full-stop wheel landing on runway 16, which was experiencing a six-knot crosswind at a 45-degree angle.
As the Cessna (type not specified in source) entered ground effect, the pilot reduced throttle too rapidly. This action increased the sink rate, resulting in a firm touchdown on the main landing gear. The pilot attempted to arrest a subsequent bounce using forward pressure and applied power to maintain directional control. However, the aircraft began to deviate from the runway centerline.
In an attempt to manage the deviation, the pilot lowered the tail, which led to an unstable flight condition. Although the instructor initially intervened to stabilize the aircraft, the pilot indicated they could handle the situation, prompting the instructor to return control to them. The instructor later noted that control may have been returned too prematurely, as the aircraft's track continued to deviate significantly from the centerline. Ultimately, the instructor could not regain directional control, and the aircraft entered a left-hand ground loop. During this maneuver, the right wing and elevator struck the ground, resulting in structural damage.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot's actions during the landing phase led to an unstable state. The primary factors included the rapid reduction of throttle while in ground effect and the subsequent loss of directional control during the ground loop.