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Tailwheel Airplane Ground Loops During Landing Practice

Wasilla, AK, United States

On March 31, 2015, a CESSNA 170B UNDESIGNAT operated by ROCHELEAU KENNETH RANEY was involved in an aviation accident near Wasilla, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student while landing, which resulted in a ground loop. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During a landing practice session, a tailwheel airplane ground looped after the student pilot applied right rudder and the instructor's corrective inputs were insufficient, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron.

Accident Overview

A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting landing practice in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The accident occurred during the fifth landing of the session. As the airplane was rolling after touchdown, it began to drift slightly to the right. The student pilot inadvertently applied right rudder, increasing the deviation.

Instructor's Response

To counter the right turn, the flight instructor immediately applied full left rudder and left brake while simultaneously pulling aft on the control yoke. Despite these inputs, the airplane ground looped—a loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Aircraft Damage

During the ground loop, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron. No other damage was reported.

Accident Details

  • Aircraft type: Tailwheel-equipped airplane (specific make and model not provided)
  • Phase of flight: Landing roll
  • Nature of flight: Instructional (dual flight training)
  • Personnel on board: One flight instructor and one student pilot
  • Injuries: None reported
  • Occurrence location: Not specified
  • Time of day: Not specified
  • Weather conditions: Not specified
  • ATC involvement: Not mentioned

Probable Cause

The investigation did not determine a probable cause for the accident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Instructor/check pilot

Other contributing factors

Student/instructed pilot

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Mar 2015 CESSNA 170B UNDESIGNAT accident near Wasilla, AK?

During a landing practice session, a tailwheel airplane ground looped after the student pilot applied right rudder and the instructor's corrective inputs were insufficient, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron.

Were there any fatalities in the 31 Mar 2015 CESSNA 170B UNDESIGNAT accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Mar 2015 involved a CESSNA 170B UNDESIGNAT, operated by ROCHELEAU KENNETH RANEY, at Wasilla, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student while landing, which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the student pilots failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll.

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