NTSB Factual Report

On September 18, 2005, at approximately 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N49189, was substantially damaged during a landing rollout at Olympia Airport, Olympia, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, cross-country flight, which departed from Tacoma, Washington, approximately 30 minutes prior to the event. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

The pilot said that he was landing on runway 35 and that his airspeed was "about 60 mph" as opposed to the desired 50 mph. He said that he touched down left of the centerline and was attempting to manipulate the airplane back to centerline. He said that a gust of wind came from the left, and that along with his "over correction back to centerline" caused the left wing to rise up. Subsequently the right tire "blew out", the right wing contacted the runway, and the airplane "spun 180 degrees." The right wing tip and aileron were bent and wrinkled. The pilot had received his tailwheel endorsement on August 8, 2005.

The Olympia Airport, Olympia, Washington, weather at 1254 reported the wind to be variable at 3 knots; the wind at 1354 was calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's loss of aircraft control during landing roll, and airplane's subsequent inadvertent ground loop.