Accident Summary
A Piper PA-18-150 experienced a runway excursion during the landing roll on runway 19. The landing was normal with calm wind conditions. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft veered to the right, exited the runway surface, traveled down a 10-degree embankment, and collided with a fence. The pilot stated that he applied left rudder pressure but observed no response from the aircraft.
Pilot Information
The pilot had accumulated a total of 7 hours of flight time in the PA-18-150, with 2 hours as pilot-in-command. He had received his tailwheel endorsement on the same day as the accident.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector interviewed the pilot following the accident. During the interview, the pilot indicated that he may have inadvertently applied pressure to the rudder pedal rather than to the brake pedal. Subsequent functional testing of the aircraft's rudder and brake systems revealed no discrepancies. No other factors contributing to the excursion were identified in the investigation.