NTSB Factual Report

On January 27, 2001, at 1111 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22, N9411D, was substantially damaged when the aircraft ground looped during takeoff at Camarillo, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings at another nearby airport. The airplane had been converted from tricycle to conventional landing gear and the pilot had received a tailwheel aircraft logbook endorsement. The pilot applied about 1/2 of the engine power and intended to perform a "slow takeoff." Runway 26 is 6,010 feet long and 150 feet wide. During the early part of the takeoff roll, when the pilot applied forward pressure on the controls to lift the tail from the runway, the aircraft started to veer to the left. He corrected with right rudder and the airplane entered a skid to the right and ground looped. The airplane came to rest off the right-hand edge of the runway with damage to the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left landing gear. The surface wind was from 020 degrees at 3 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff.