Incident Details
The pilot was completing a local flight and performing an instrument approach to the runway. The airplane was configured with full flaps, and the pilot intended to execute a three-point landing. Although the wind was reported as calm, the pilot observed smoke indicating a light crosswind from the right.
Upon touchdown, the tailwheel began to "shimmy violently," and the airplane started to drift to the left. The pilot applied rudder input to maintain a straight path, then turned right to correct back toward the runway's centerline. To recorrect to the centerline, the pilot applied full left rudder. At that point, either the pilot's "left shoe caught on something and jammed the pedal, or the left rudder pedal [became] stuck in the full left rudder position." The pilot was unable to move the pedal to maintain directional control, and the airplane ground looped.
Damage and Examination
The ground loop resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron and the right elevator. A postaccident examination found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.