What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While enroute from lakeland FL.(lal) to el dorado springs MO.(87K) with refueling stop at Bessemer al. About ten miles out from (eky) pilot called for an airport advisory and was told the winds were 310 degrees at 11 gusting. The FBO reported the winds were shifting but were generally favoring runway 23. I reported left base for 23 and the approach was normal with touchdown about normal considering the wind conditions. Pilot stated ?I believe I lost control as I was lowering the tail with little rudder control and tail wheel not in contact with the runway. I started to the right which was consistent with the wind at that time, as I corrected to the left I lost control and did a half ground loop to the left. This was very gentle and as the aircraft came to a stop on the runway my wife and I exited the aircraft with no injuries at all.? Pilot stated as he stood on the runway waiting for the aircraft to be removed, he noticed that the wind was shifting about sixty degrees from about 280 to 340 degrees, his best guess looking at the wind sock. Pilot stated he experienced a classic ground loop.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE ENROUTE FROM LAKELAND FL.(LAL) TO EL DORADO SPRINGS MO.(87K) WITH REFUELING STOP AT BESSEMER AL. ABOUT TEN MILES OUT FROM (EKY) PILOT CALLED FOR AN AIRPORT ADVISORY AND WAS TOLD THE WINDS WERE 310 DEGREES AT 11 GUSTING. THE FBO REPORTED THE WINDS WERE SHIFTING BUT WERE GENERALLY FAVORING RUNWAY 23. I REPORTED LEFT BASE FOR 23 AND THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL WITH TOUCHDOWN ABOUT NORMAL CONSIDERING THE WIND CONDITIONS. PILOT STATED ?I BELIEVE I LOST CONTROL AS I WAS LOWERING THE TAIL WITH LITTLE RUDDER CONTROL AND TAIL WHEEL NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY. I STARTED TO THE RIGHT WHICH WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE WIND AT THAT TIME, AS I CORRECTED TO THE LEFT I LOST CONTROL AND DID A HALF GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS VERY GENTLE AND AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY MY WIFE AND I EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO INJURIES AT ALL.? PILOT STATED AS HE STOOD ON THE RUNWAY WAITING FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO BE REMOVED, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIND WAS SHIFTING ABOUT SIXTY DEGREES FROM ABOUT 280 TO 340 DEGREES, HIS BEST GUESS LOOKING AT THE WIND SOCK. PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED A CLASSIC GROUND LOOP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.