N5975Z

On January 31, 1998, about 1200 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N5975Z, registered to Precision Soaring, Inc., experienced a loss of control while landing at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 7 minutes earlier from the Massey Ranch Airpark, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

The pilot stated that the flight entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 29 and he was advised that the wind was from the northwest at 10 knots with slight gusts, which he noted while on final approach. The airplane was landed first on the main landing gear with the flaps fully extended and after the tail wheel was lowered to the runway, the empennage was pushed to the left. He then corrected with full left rudder and applied full power, but the airplane then veered off the left side of the runway. He aborted the takeoff, and with obstacles ahead, intentionally ground looped the airplane, which resulted in damage to the right wing spar and the collapse of the right main landing gear. He further stated that he intended to land on runway 33 which was more aligned with the wind, but with traffic in the pattern using runway 29, he elected to use the same runway. He also stated that he should have touched down first with the right main and tailwheel to assist with maintaining the directional control in the crosswind condition.