No fatalities

Tailwheel Airplane Ground Loops During Landing Roll

WATERTOWN, SD, United States

On June 26, 2017, a CHAMPION 7BCM NO SERIES operated by THOMAS P. ROSS was involved in an aviation accident near WATERTOWN, SD. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1785761257Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a ground loop during landing roll after the right wing rose. Pilot corrections were unable to prevent the left wing from striking the ground, resulting in substantial damage.

Accident Overview

A pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported an incident during the landing roll. As the airplane touched down and rolled along the runway, the right wing suddenly rose, initiating a loss of directional control.

Pilot Actions

The pilot responded by applying aileron and rudder inputs to counteract the wing rise and correct the airplane's path. Despite these efforts, the left wing subsequently struck the ground as the airplane entered a ground loop.

Aircraft Damage

The left wing sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact with the ground. No other damage to the airframe was reported.

Mechanical Status

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft was reported to be functioning as expected prior to the incident.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained