Incident Details
The flight was an instructional checkout in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft, with a private pilot-rated student occupying the front seat and a certificated flight instructor (CFI) in the rear seat. According to the CFI, the event occurred while he was providing taxi instruction to the front-seat student. As the aircraft was slowing from a high-speed taxi, it departed the runway to the left.
Pilot Actions and Sequence
The CFI stated that he took control at that point, applying rudder, power, and aileron inputs that were sufficient to drag the right wing on the runway. As a result, the airplane turned approximately 45 degrees to the right and then departed the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted a ravine that ran parallel to the right side of the departure end of the runway.
Mechanical Status
No preimpact mechanical malfunction was reported by the flight instructor or noted during the investigation.