No fatalities

Tailwheel Aircraft Ground Loops During Landing Roll, Strikes Taxiway Sign

Saratoga, WY, United States

On July 1, 2016, a CESSNA 188 B was involved in an aviation accident near Saratoga, WY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll resulting in substantial damage. 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

A tailwheel-equipped airplane ground looped to the right after landing on an asphalt runway, exited the runway, and struck a taxiway indicator sign with its left wing, resulting in substantial damage to the left aileron.

Incident Overview

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll after an aerial application flight, the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane subsequently exited the runway to the right, and the left wing struck a taxiway indicator sign. The left aileron sustained substantial damage.

Aircraft and Operational Details

The airplane was a tailwheel-equipped model used for aerial application. The pilot reported that the landing was performed on an asphalt runway. No other operational details, such as wind conditions or runway length, were provided.

Post-Accident Findings

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operation. The substantial damage was limited to the left aileron. No other damage or injuries were reported.

Conclusion

The incident involved a ground loop during the landing roll, leading to a runway excursion and impact with a taxiway sign. The pilot confirmed the absence of mechanical issues that could have contributed to the event.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome