On May 21, 1999, a Piper PA-11 (registration N78659) was involved in an aviation accident near Leesburg, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command's (CFI) failure to maintain control of the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a tailwheel training flight, the airplane stalled, bounced, and veered off the runway, striking a sign and causing substantial damage to the empennage.
Flight Details
The certified flight instructor was providing tailwheel transition training to a commercial pilot. The commercial pilot had completed approximately six landings in the airplane prior to the event.
Accident Sequence
During the subsequent landing, the pilots encountered a crosswind, which then shifted to a tailwind. The airplane stalled and bounced, then departed the left side of the runway. The instructor reported that he took control of the airplane to prevent a ground loop but was unable to maintain the airplane on the runway surface. The airplane subsequently struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage.