No fatalities

5 Sep 2009: PIPER PA-20 — HUTCHINSON DARROLD K — Bozeman, MT

Bozeman, MT, United States

On 5 Sep 2009, a PIPER PA-20 operated by HUTCHINSON DARROLD K was involved in an aviation accident near Bozeman, MT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pilot receiving instruction to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and the flight instructor's delayed corrective action. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a tailwheel training flight, a private pilot overcorrected after liftoff, leading to a ground loop that separated the left main landing gear and bent the left wing.

Training Flight

A flight instructor was providing tailwheel training to a certificated private pilot. Before the flight, the instructor advised the pilot that the rudder pedals were very sensitive.

Takeoff and Initial Climb

The pilot taxied onto the runway, aligned the aircraft with the centerline, and applied power for takeoff. The takeoff roll proceeded normally until the tail wheel lifted off, at which point the nose turned left. The instructor stated that the pilot overcorrected to the right and then back to the left.

Instructor Intervention and Ground Loop

As the aircraft began to turn right a second time, the flight instructor took control with the pilot, but the turn progressed into a ground loop. The aircraft subsequently sustained damage: the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing was bent upward.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotInstructor/check pilot