LAX04CA072

Factual narrative

On December 16, 2003, about 0900 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18 single engine airplane, N4380T, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during the landing roll at Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC), Prescott, Arizona. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The tail wheel endorsed private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight that departed from the Camp Verde airport (E56), Camp Verde, Arizona at 0800, with Prescott as its final destination. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported he was attempting to perform a landing in his tail wheel equipped airplane that would terminate his cross-country flight. During touchdown, he completed a full stall three-point landing directly over the runway centerline. After touchdown, with the throttle at idle, the airplane rolled approximately 20 to 30 feet, when the right wing lifted up. The airplane's right main landing gear lifted up from the runway and the pilot input right aileron and right rudder. The pilot's corrections were too small to counteract the left veer and the airplane ground looped to the left in a counterclockwise, 180-degree turn. The airplane came to rest upright with the engine still running. The pilot uneventfully taxied to the ramp area. The damage included a bent wing spar and wrinkled aileron. In a written statement, the pilot reported further damage to the right aileron, right wingtip, and right wheel. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported. A routine aviation weather report (METAR), issued at 0853, reported calm wind conditions. The tail wheel equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during the landing roll. During touchdown, the pilot completed a full stall three-point landing directly over the runway centerline. After touchdown, with the throttle at idle, the airplane rolled approximately 20 to 30 feet when the right wing lifted up. The airplane's right main landing gear lifted up from the runway and the pilot input right aileron and right rudder. His corrections were too small to counteract the left veer and the airplane ground looped to the left in a counterclockwise, 180-degree turn. The wing spar of the airplane sustained structural damage. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12