NYC96LA161

The private pilot had performed eight touch and go landings with a certified flight instructor, and was approved for solo flight in the airplane. The pilot then performed two solo touch and go landings. During a third touch and go landing, the airplane was aligned to the left of the runway. When the pilot attempted to correct back to the runway, the right wing struck the runway, and the airplane ground looped. The winds were reported calm at the time of the accident.

On August 3, 1996, at 1618 eastern daylight time, an American Champion 8-KCAB, N2552Z, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at the Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at the Allegheny County Airport (AGC), about 1600. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated he had performed eight touch and go landings with a certified flight instructor, who then approved the pilot for solo flight in the airplane. The pilot then taxied out solo, and performed two touch and go landings on Runway 28. The pilot further stated:

"...I attempted a three-point landing. The aircraft was aligned on the center line and positioned for the landing when the tail wheel touched down. The aircraft veered sharply to the left. I applied full right correction, but it had no effect. I was headed for the runway marker, so I applied full power to swing the tail, and regain sufficient airspeed for flight. The aircraft climbed approximately 10-15 feet, turning to the right. The right wing tip caught and [the airplane] ground looped..."

A witness at the airport stated that she observed the airplane land in the grass to the left of Runway 28. She further stated:

"...The plane became airborne and then banked to the right, as if the pilot was trying to regain the runway, and stalled hitting the right wing on the runway..."

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's statement, examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane's systems. The inspector further stated:

"...The pilot and witness statements are similar in that both confirm that the airplane was to the left of the landing runway as it was about to touch down, and that either a stall (witness statement), or insufficient flying speed (pilot statement) prevented a safe recovery from the rejected landing..."

The AGC winds were reported calm at the time of the accident.