PIPER PA-18-150

Full Narrative

On July 5, 2010, about 1300 Mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N6110A, was substantially damaged during a ground loop during landing at Dillon Airport, Dillon, Montana. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the State of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as a public use flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and it is unknown if a flight plan was filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he entered a normal traffic pattern for runway 22 and observed the winds to be a right quartering headwind. After a normal approach, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear. As the tail wheel was about to touch down the airplane veered to the right. The pilot used left rudder and brake to compensate for the turn, but the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Through the use of left rudder and brake the pilot was able to stop the right turn, but then the airplane turned to the left and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar and right elevator.