Cessna 182 N5179D accident near Ionia, Michigan

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing was the pilot getting his shoe caught in the rudder pedal.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was performing an instrument approach to the runway following a local flight. The airplane was configured with full flaps and the pilot's intention was to perform a three-point landing. The wind was reported as calm; however, the pilot reported seeing smoke that indicated there was a light crosswind from the right. After touching down on the runway the tailwheel began to "shimmy violently," and the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied rudder to get the airplane to track "a straight path" and then turned right to correct back to the runway's centerline. To recorrect to the centerline, the pilot applied full left rudder. At that point, either the pilot's "left shoe caught on something and jammed the pedal, or the left rudder pedal [became] stuck in the full left rudder position." The pilot couldn't move the pedal to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped causing substantial damage to the right aileron and the right elevator. A postaccident examination showed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20CA193 for the full record.