What happened
Following the completion of the landing phase, the pilot in command permitted the copilot to assume responsibility for taxiing the aircraft. However, the pilot remained active on the controls, monitoring the operation closely due to his limited experience with tailwheel-equipped airplanes. During the taxi maneuver, the aircraft deviated from the left side of the runway. Before the pilot could successfully re-establish full control of the direction, the airplane continued its trajectory off the paved surface and entered a ditch.
The investigation
Post-accident review included statements from the pilot regarding the sequence of events. The pilot acknowledged that he followed the copilot through the controls during the taxi phase. He attributed the loss of directional control to his own lack of familiarity with tailwheel aircraft handling characteristics. Furthermore, the pilot admitted that greater concentration on the part of himself could have prevented the incident.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident involved the operation of a tailwheel aircraft by personnel with insufficient experience in that specific configuration. The failure to maintain directional control during the ground maneuver resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway environment. The pilot's self-assessment highlights a critical need for heightened situational awareness and concentration when managing complex ground handling tasks, particularly when delegating taxi duties to less experienced crew members.