Event CEN21LA202

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that when the tailwheel equipped airplane approached the airport, the wind was variable from 290 to 050 degrees, gusting to 20 knots. While on a two mile final, the tower controller reported the wind was 290 degrees at 7 knots. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear with no noteable crosswind. As the tailwheel touched down, the airplane suddenly veered to the right; the pilot corrected with left rudder and the airplane veered hard to the left. The pilot attempted to add right tudder and brake, but to no avail. The airplane exited the left side of the runway onto the dirt when it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The upper wing and rudder were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that, during landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and as the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane veered hard to the left and exited the left side of the runway, despite the pilot’s use of right rudder and braking. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the top left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 28 with wind reported as variable 050 o to 290o with gusts to 20 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Variable wind-Contributed to outcome
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot