LAX04CA209

During a practice landing to a dry lakebed, the pilot under instruction overcompensated during a realignment maneuver, resulting in a loss of control of the tail wheel airplane and a ground loop. The pilot was receiving flight instruction for a tail wheel endorsement. According to the certified flight instructor's (CFI's) written statement, he and the pilot had practiced numerous takeoffs and landings at the departure airport before they headed to a dry lakebed for additional takeoff and landings. During the final landing, as the tail was lowering from the wheel landing position, the "student applied right rudder" to clear a stick that was on the ground. Though, according to the CFI, the aircraft's original rollout path would have cleared the stick, the CFI felt comfortable with the maneuver since it provided extra clearance. The pilot then corrected with the left rudder, but "overcompensated." The CFI announced that he had the controls, but the pilot did not remove his hands from the control yoke or his feet from the rudder pedals. As the airplane slowed, it underwent two left-to-right oscillations. On the second right oscillation, the right wing lifted and the airplane went up onto its left main tire. The CFI said that he applied left aileron and left rudder; however, the airplane continued to the right and he was unable to regain control of the airplane before it ground looped and nosed over. The CFI applied left brake, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over onto its back.

On May 14, 2004, at 1130 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N6430X, ground looped and nosed over during the landing roll on a dry lakebed near Kingman, Arizona. Sheble Aviation, Inc., the registered owner, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained no injuries and the pilot under instruction (PUI) sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed for the instructional flight. The local flight departed the Kingman Airport at 0930.

The PUI was receiving flight instruction for a tail wheel endorsement. According to the CFI's written statement, he and the PUI had practiced numerous takeoffs and landings at the departure airport before they headed to a dry lakebed for additional takeoff and landings. During the final landing, as the tail was lowering from the wheel landing position, the "student applied right rudder" to clear a stick that was on the ground. Though, according to the CFI, the aircraft's original rollout path would have cleared the stick, the CFI felt comfortable with the maneuver since it provided extra clearance. The PUI then corrected with the left rudder, but "overcompensated."

The CFI announced that he had the controls, but the PUI did not remove his hands from the control yoke or his feet from the rudder pedals. As the airplane slowed, it underwent two left-to-right oscillations. On the second right oscillation, the right wing lifted and the airplane went up onto its left main tire. The CFI said that he applied left aileron and left rudder; however, the airplane continued to the right. The CFI applied left brake, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over onto its back. The CFI was not sure if the PUI had his feet on the brakes during the final portion of the landing roll.

The pilots and operator reported no problems with the airplane prior to the accident.