Cessna 140, N89939: Accident occurred March 13, 2016 in Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona

http://registry.faa.gov/N89939 

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Scottsdale FSDO-07

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA152
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, March 13, 2016 in Chandler, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/03/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA 140, registration: N89939
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he encountered a crosswind during a wheel landing. During the landing roll, the pilot further reported that the airplane "drifted abruptly to the left" and he added right rudder, but the airplane departed the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane ground looped to the left and collided with an airport sign, the right main landing gear separated, and the right wing impacted the ground.

A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to right wing.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion, a ground loop, and a collision with an airport sign.