What happened
During a flight intended for practice of takeoff and landing circuits, a tail-wheel equipped airplane experienced an excursion during its first landing on runway 8. The aircraft was operating with a 4-knot left crosswind component at the time of the incident.
Immediately after touchdown, the pilot encountered what was described as a hump in the pavement, which caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air. In an attempt to cushion the subsequent touchdown, the pilot applied additional power. This maneuver resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway and into the infield area. Upon contacting the dirt, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, leading the aircraft to enter a ground loop.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the site and confirmed the presence of a small hump in the pavement located near the approach end of runway 8. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures occurred prior to the loss of control.