HOLLISTER, CA, USA
N3343D
Cessna 180
The aircraft was destroyed by fire following a ground loop during a touch-and-go landing. The pilot stated that he did not place the elevator in the full up position after landing, which he felt reduced directional response to both the aerodynamic rudder and the steerable tail wheel. When the aircraft began to veer to the left, he added full power in an attempt to go around, which torqued the aircraft into a fully developed ground loop. During the ground loop, the right wingtip contacted the ground which caused the wing fuel tank to start leaking. The fuel was subsequently ignited and the fire consumed the aircraft.
On June 8, 1997, at 1835 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N3343D, ground looped while the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings at Frazier Lake Airpark, Hollister, California. The aircraft came to rest at the edge of the runway and was destroyed by fire. The private pilot, the sole occupant, evacuated the aircraft with no injuries and there was no property damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot stated in his report that he did not bring the wheel back to place the elevator in the full up position after landing, which he felt reduced directional response to both the aerodynamic rudder and the steerable tail wheel. Then, when the aircraft began to veer to the left, he attempted to go around, but the application of power caused the aircraft to veer harder to the left into a fully developed ground loop. The right wingtip contacted the ground which caused the wing fuel tank to start leaking. The fuel was subsequently ignited and consumed the aircraft.
The pilot's improper use of the elevator and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's application of full power following the loss of directional control, which increased the turning moment already generated by the initial swerve.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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