No fatalities

Tailwheel Aircraft Ground-Loop Incident During Practice Landings

Palmer, AK, United States

On April 9, 2011, a CESSNA 180H operated by John Ruehle was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not respond aggressively enough to a rightward tail bounce during landing, resulting in a ground loop that caused the right wing to drag and sustain structural damage. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot practicing stop-and-go landings in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft experienced a rightward tail bounce. Insufficient corrective action led to a ground loop, causing the right wing to drag and sustain structural damage.

Incident Overview and Context The event involved a pilot conducting practice stop-and-go landings in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, date, and location are not provided in the source material. ## Sequence of Events During the final landing of the practice session, the pilot reported that the aircraft's tail bounced to the right. The pilot stated that he did not respond aggressively enough to counteract the movement, which allowed the aircraft to enter a ground loop. ## Damage and Outcome As a result of the ground loop, the aircraft dragged its right wing along the runway surface. This contact caused structural damage to the wing. No other injuries or damage are mentioned in the source.

Probable cause

The pilot did not respond aggressively enough to a rightward tail bounce during landing, resulting in a ground loop that caused the right wing to drag and sustain structural damage.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Apr 2011 CESSNA 180H accident near Palmer, AK?

A pilot practicing stop-and-go landings in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft experienced a rightward tail bounce. Insufficient corrective action led to a ground loop, causing the right wing to drag and sustain structural damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Apr 2011 CESSNA 180H accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Apr 2011 involved a CESSNA 180H, operated by John Ruehle, at Palmer, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot did not respond aggressively enough to a rightward tail bounce during landing, resulting in a ground loop that caused the right wing to drag and sustain structural damage.