What happened
The aircraft collided with a ditch during the landing rollout phase following a loss of control event. According to the pilot, the initial touchdown on the 2850-foot runway strip was normal. However, as the aircraft slowed down, it began to groundloop. The pilot was unable to regain directional control, and the aircraft veered off the right side of Runway 16, ultimately entering a ditch.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the loss of control during the landing rollout. It was determined that the flight represented the pilot's initial checkout in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft. This lack of experience with this specific configuration likely contributed to the inability to manage the groundloop effectively at slow speeds.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's inexperience with tailwheel aircraft operations. The transition from normal landing to groundloop control requires specific techniques that the pilot had not yet mastered during checkout. The combination of slow speed and directional instability led to the off-airport collision.