No fatalities

Small Aircraft Ground Loops on Landing, Substantial Damage to Wing

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, United States

On September 19, 2013, an UNIVERSAL STINSON 108 1 3 operated by BATES BARRY A was involved in an aviation accident near LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, resulting in a ground loop, runway excursion, and structural damage to the right wing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A small aircraft on a local sightseeing flight with friends experienced a bounce and subsequent ground loop during landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical issues.

Incident Overview

A pilot was completing a local sightseeing flight with friends, reporting that the weather was "clear and calm." The aircraft was cleared for a three-mile straight-in approach to runway 7. According to the pilot, the approach was normal and stabilized.

Landing and Ground Loop

After the initial touchdown, a "small bounce" occurred. The airplane then deviated to the right, and the pilot corrected back to the left. The airplane subsequently ground looped and came to rest upright in the grass adjacent to the runway.

Damage and Examination

An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Pilot Statement

No further details were provided regarding the cause of the bounce or the ground loop. The pilot did not report any injuries to himself or his passengers.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot