Accident Details
During an instructional flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to remain in the traffic pattern for touch-and-go landing practice. As the airplane touched down and rolled out, it began drifting toward the left side of the runway. In response, the student pilot applied a hard corrective input to the right using the rudder pedals, which caused the airplane to ground loop. The aircraft came to a stop facing 180 degrees from its landing direction.
Instructor and Student Observations
The flight instructor reported that he called for “my aircraft” when the student pilot made the hard correction, but the student pilot did not release the rudder pedals. Both the student pilot and flight instructor suspected that inadvertent brake application may have occurred, as the airplane was equipped with heel brakes. The instructor added that he did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and noted that winds were light at the time of the accident.
Damage Assessment
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found substantial damage to the left wing.