NTSB Factual Report

On June 3, 2002, at 1700 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-150, N8680D, registered to a private owner and operated by the pilot ground-looped during a landing at a private airport in Thomaston, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial airframe damage. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Griffin, Georgia, at 1630.

According to the pilot, he and his passenger had flown from Griffin to Thomaston on a local pleasure flight. Upon landing, the pilot reported that the airplane ground-looped, and the left wing struck the ground. Unaware of the extent of airframe damage, the pilot continued the flight and returned to Griffin. During the post-flight examination of the airplane, the pilot discovered that the left wing assembly has sustained structural damage.

Further examination disclosed a bent spar and ripped fabric on the left wing. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. The pilot also did not report a mechanical failure.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control on landing, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop.