- Date
- July 28, 1996, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Decatur, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1556MCessna 188A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960728020509A
- Case key
- 19924
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the prevailing crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After towing and releasing a glider, the pilot approached the 3,200 foot grass airstrip to land on a east-northeast direction. The pilot stated that while attempting to flare for a three-point landing, the airplane bounced and directional control was lost resulting in a ground loop. The pilot added that the winds had shifted considerably from the time he departed the airstrip, and a left cross prevailed when he initiated the landing approach. The winds at the time of the accident were estimated from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15.
Factual narrative
On July 28, 1996, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 188A, N1556M, was substantially damaged while landing near Decatur, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the North Texas Soaring Club of Decatur, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the glider towing flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the same private airstrip at approximately 1445.
After towing and releasing a glider, the airplane approached the 3,200 foot grass airstrip to land on a east-northeast direction. The pilot stated that while attempting to flare for a three point landing, the airplane bounced and directional control was lost. During the subsequent ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed resulting in structural damage to the left wing.
The pilot added that the winds had shifted considerably from the time he departed the airstrip, and a left cross wind prevailed when he returned to land. The winds at the time of the accident were estimated from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1556M
- Reported as
- Cessna 188A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18800656
- Airframe hours
- 4,988
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D26, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- North Texas Soaring
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 20, 1996 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Airport
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 1 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 99 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1556M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.