Boeing A75N1(PT17) N50142 accident near Evansville, Indiana

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to engage the tailwheel lock before landing which resulted in the loss of control and ground loop.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that while performing a three-point landing on runway 18, during the roll out the airplane veered left, exited the runway to the left, and ground looped in the counter-clockwise direction. During the ground loop, the right wing struck the ground and the airplane came to rest upright on the main landing gear. The right aileron sustained substantial damage. After the accident sequence the pilot noted that the tailwheel lock was not fully in the locked position. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane to parking without further incident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN23LA156 for the full record.