What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft on approach to gravel runway 33 to the left of runway. Witness stated approach path appeared unstable with nose high.
Four foot long tire marks in gravel indicate aircraft touched down slanted left of center of runway alignment.
Secound set of disturbed ground tire marks were 100 feet from initial point of contact and five feet long indicated aircraft bounced again. No indication of tailwheel contacting ground.
Approximately 150 feet from second point of contact tire marks in gravel indicate aircraft on ground. These marks extend 200 feet veering to left then abuptly turning right. About 50 feet beyond, a 6 foot skid mark in gravel indicate brakes were applied.
Aircraft ground looped skidding to northeast but pointing southeast as left main tire contacted the raised edge of runway pavement. Left tire, wheel, axle and brake assembly seperate from left main spring leg making a 2 foot long gouge in runway pavement. Main landing gear spring attach box was bent and torn. Aircraft tipped onto spinning propeller and left wing coming to a stop tipped onto nose and left wing. Pilot and passenger exited aircraft.
Pilot stated he had recently purchased this aircraft with these wheels and tires installed. Prior owner had provided limited training to him on this configuration and he had practiced several takeoffs and landings prior to this flight with a passenger. Pilot stated this approach was faster and steeper than previous and he had difficulty correcting with brakes as aircraft bounced and swerved
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT ON APPROACH TO GRAVEL RUNWAY 33 TO THE LEFT OF RUNWAY. WITNESS STATED APPROACH PATH APPEARED UNSTABLE WITH NOSE HIGH.
FOUR FOOT LONG TIRE MARKS IN GRAVEL INDICATE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SLANTED LEFT OF CENTER OF RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.
SECOUND SET OF DISTURBED GROUND TIRE MARKS WERE 100 FEET FROM INITIAL POINT OF CONTACT AND FIVE FEET LONG INDICATED AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AGAIN. NO INDICATION OF TAILWHEEL CONTACTING GROUND.
APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM SECOND POINT OF CONTACT TIRE MARKS IN GRAVEL INDICATE AIRCRAFT ON GROUND. THESE MARKS EXTEND 200 FEET VEERING TO LEFT THEN ABUPTLY TURNING RIGHT. ABOUT 50 FEET BEYOND, A 6 FOOT SKID MARK IN GRAVEL INDICATE BRAKES WERE APPLIED.
AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED SKIDDING TO NORTHEAST BUT POINTING SOUTHEAST AS LEFT MAIN TIRE CONTACTED THE RAISED EDGE OF RUNWAY PAVEMENT. LEFT TIRE, WHEEL, AXLE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY SEPERATE FROM LEFT MAIN SPRING LEG MAKING A 2 FOOT LONG GOUGE IN RUNWAY PAVEMENT. MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRING ATTACH BOX WAS BENT AND TORN. AIRCRAFT TIPPED ONTO SPINNING PROPELLER AND LEFT WING COMING TO A STOP TIPPED ONTO NOSE AND LEFT WING. PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED AIRCRAFT.
PILOT STATED HE HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS AIRCRAFT WITH THESE WHEELS AND TIRES INSTALLED. PRIOR OWNER HAD PROVIDED LIMITED TRAINING TO HIM ON THIS CONFIGURATION AND HE HAD PRACTICED SEVERAL TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT WITH A PASSENGER. PILOT STATED THIS APPROACH WAS FASTER AND STEEPER THAN PREVIOUS AND HE HAD DIFFICULTY CORRECTING WITH BRAKES AS AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND SWERVED
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.