Event WPR20CA103

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a wheel landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he inadvertently applied left brake pressure and the airplane veered off the edge of the runway into tall grass. Corrective action was ineffective and the airplane subsequently collided with an irrigation ditch, substantially damaging the nose and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he inadvertently applied left brake pressure, and the airplane veered off the edge of the runway into tall grass. The pilot's corrective action was ineffective, and the airplane subsequently impacted an irrigation ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the nose and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Unintentional use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven terrain-Effect on operation - C