Simmons Noel SDL, N945PL: Accident occurred August 23, 2016 in Naches, Yakima County, Washington

http://registry.faa.gov/N945PL

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA452
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 23, 2016 in Naches, WA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/18/2017
Aircraft: SIMMONS NOEL SDL, registration: N945PL
Injuries: 2 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.

According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he made an approach to a dirt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane bounced during the touch down, and when it settled back to the runway the airplane’s heading was not aligned with the runway heading. He recalled the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The left wing ribs and aileron sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.