N9957J

On August 15, 1997, at 0700 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 188, N9957J, ground looped during a landing attempt at Eloy, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Eloy just prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

An Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector said the pilot told him he had been out practicing steep turns, banks, and stalls prior to conducting five to six low approaches over the runway. On his first landing attempt he said he set the aircraft up at 75 mph, flaps 20 degrees, and touched down just past the runway numbers. The pilot said the airplane bounced back in the air so he lowered the nose. He stated the aircraft stalled and contacted the runway. He was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft with the rudder and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot said he applied left rudder and brakes and the airplane skidded into an 180-degree turn. The main landing gear sheered off during the skidding turn.