CEN11LA642

The pilot was attempting to take off on an instructional flight when the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered and ground looped toward the right before it nosed over. The pilot stated that he did not apply left rudder soon enough to avoid the loss of directional control. The flight instructor stated that he attempted to apply corrective control input, but the pilot was applying opposite control input and did not reduce engine power as he was instructed.

On September 11, 2011, about 1027 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-16, N5383H, veered off runway 14 and ground looped during takeoff at Muskegon County Airport (MKG) Muskegon, Michigan. The private pilot and the flight instructor were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for Grand Haven Memorial Airpark, (3GM) Grand Haven, Michigan. The pilot was receiving flight instruction toward a tail wheel endorsement. During the initial 120 feet of the takeoff roll on runway 14 (6,100 by 150 feet, asphalt) the pilot made both slight left and right rudder control inputs. Upon reaching about 240 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the right and ground looped. The left wing and left elevator struck the ground. The pilot stated that left rudder was not applied soon enough to prevent the ground loop. The flight instructor stated that about 300-400 feet down the runway, the airplane veered toward the right edge of the runway lifting the left wing. The flight instructor stated the he attempted to apply corrective control input but felt resistance from the pilot who was applying opposite control input. He also stated that the pilot was told to reduce engine power but did not do so. The left wing and left rudder struck the ground and the airplane nosed over.