Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's improper compensation for the wind condition and improper use of the rudder. The whirlwind was a factor in this accident.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 26, 1995, at 1730 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech BE-77, N38062, encountered a whirlwind and ground looped while landing on runway 30 at Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, California. The airplane exited the runway and its nose gear collapsed when it struck a furrow next to the runway. The student pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules solo instructional flight and was not injured. The airplane, registered to and operated by the student pilot's flight instructor, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Fresno Air Terminal, Fresno, California, at 1630 hours.
The student pilot said in the aircraft accident report that the accident occurred on the second landing. When the main landing gear touched down, a gust of wind turned the airplane 45-degrees to the right. The student pilot said he applied left rudder, but overcorrected. The airplane began skidding down the runway and exited the runway.
At the time of the accident, the surface winds were from 270-degrees at 6 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX95LA270