NTSB Factual Report

On January 5, 2002, about 1040 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N83517, ground looped at Reno-Tahoe Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Reno about 1015. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said he made one successful touch-and-go landing. About 300 feet from touchdown, he noticed he was experiencing a quartering left tailwind. He considered performing a wheel landing with partial flaps, but decided to make a full stall landing with full flaps. The touchdown was good, but during the landing roll the airplane began to veer to the right. He applied left rudder, but got no response. He then applied more left rudder and some left brake. The airplane immediately veered left at an angle of 45 degrees to the runway centerline. He reacted with right rudder and brake and the airplane turned to the right so that it was pointed 30 degrees to the right of the centerline. As the airplane reached the centerline, the airplane ground looped. The left axle broke and the left spar sustained substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot failed to maintain directional control resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. A contributing factor was the tailwind.