Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a ground-loop.
NTSB analysis
On the fourth landing of a test flight, the airplane made a hard, full-stall landing and began drifting to the right. The pilot applied left rudder pedal to arrest the drift, and the airplane ground looped 180 degrees to the left. The pilot applied right rudder to stop the left swing but to no avail. The right main landing gear went off the side of the runway and down a 2-foot dropoff. The right wing tip struck the ground, breaking the wing tip and front and rear wing spars. The airplane came to rest off the side of the runway.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA399 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 21, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Point Lookout, Missouri
- Nearest airport
- M. Graham Clark-Taney Co. (KPLK)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER
- N-number
- N53WE
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Flight test
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.