Event ERA21LA265

Factual narrative

The tailwheel-equipped airplane was a recent purchase by the pilot owner, but he lacked both tailwheel experience and an endorsement to fly tailwheel-configured airplanes. The flight instructor who agreed to help ferry the airplane back to the owner’s home airport had considerable tailwheel experience, but none in the accident airplane make and model. On the leg prior to the accident flight, the instructor ground-looped the airplane upon landing without damaging the airplane. On the accident landing, the airplane “shot to the left” and the instructor added power for an aborted landing, but the airplane exited the runway and struck low trees and brush where it came to rest suspended upright. After the accident, the instructor explained there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and a checkout and differences training in the accident airplane prior to departure should have been part of his pre-mission planning. 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
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot