WPR10LA472

The pilot reported that everything was normal after touchdown until the tailwheel contacted the ground and began to shimmy. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane subsequently veered toward the side and off the runway surface onto the grass. The airplane ground looped, and the right wing contacted the surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not identify any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

On September 3, 2010, at 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T188C, N9980J, ground looped during landing at Craigmont, Idaho. CJA Aviation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The local aerial application flight departed Craigmont about 0930. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he was returning to his home base after completing his third aerial application flight of the day. The landing appeared normal until the tail wheel touched the ground and it began to shimmy. The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane veered toward the side of the runway. When the tail wheel contacted the grass, the airplane ground looped. The right wing sustained substantial damage when it contacted the ground. The pilot stated that he had felt a similar shimmy on one previous occasion. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airframe and did not detect any anomalies.