Accident Cessna 188A N1556M, Sunday 28 July 1996

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Date:	Sunday 28 July 1996
Time:	15:00 LT
Type:	Cessna 188A
Owner/operator:	North Texas Soaring
Registration:	N1556M
MSN:	18800656
Year of manufacture:	1971
Total airframe hrs:	4988 hours
Engine model:	Continental IO-520-D26
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Decatur, TX - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
After towing and releasing a glider, the pilot approached the 3,200 foot grass airstrip to land on a east-northeast direction. The pilot stated that while attempting to flare for a three-point landing, the airplane bounced and directional control was lost resulting in a ground loop. The pilot added that the winds had shifted considerably from the time he departed the airstrip, and a left cross prevailed when he initiated the landing approach. The winds at the time of the accident were estimated from the north at 10 knots, gusting to 15.

Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the prevailing crosswind.

Accident investigation: