What happened
The accident occurred while a privately certificated pilot was conducting a landing maneuver in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. As the aircraft touched down and began its landing roll, an unusual incident unfolded involving the occupant seated in the passenger position.
During this critical phase of flight, the passenger's feet became entangled in the rudder pedals. This unexpected obstruction prevented proper control input by the pilot. Consequently, the airplane departed from the left side of the runway surface. The aircraft then entered a ditch and subsequently nosed over.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the airframe revealed specific damage consistent with the described sequence of events. The propeller sustained damage. Additionally, the vertical stabilizer was damaged. The left wing lift strut also received damage during the incident.
Findings
Environmental conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for landing operations. The wind was reported as calm. However, the mechanical failure of control effectiveness was directly linked to the passenger's interaction with the flight controls. The entanglement of the passenger's feet in the rudder pedals compromised the pilot's ability to maintain directional control during the rollout.
The combination of a tailwheel configuration and the loss of rudder authority due to external interference led to the departure from the paved surface. The subsequent impact with the ditch resulted in the nose-over attitude and the observed structural damage to the forward fuselage and wing components.