Accident Overview
A pilot was performing touch and go landings when, during the third landing, a crosswind from the left prompted him to touch down with the left main landing gear first. After the right main landing gear contacted the runway, the aircraft veered left. The pilot applied right rudder to correct, causing the airplane to pull hard to the right. Seeing a ditch on the right side of the runway, the pilot applied "hard left rudder" to induce a ground loop, aiming to keep the aircraft from entering the ditch.
Landing Gear and Structural Damage
During the ground loop, the right main landing gear fractured and folded under the fuselage. A subsequent examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear tube had fractured, and the fracture surfaces showed no signs of corrosion. The right wing rear spar and the lower longeron sustained substantial damage.
Flight Control and Brake Examination
Inspection of the flight controls and brakes found no evidence of any preimpact anomalies.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, a left crosswind component of between 9 and 17 knots was present.