Landing and Runway Excursion
The pilot conducted a short flight and returned for landing on runway 17. The touchdown occurred at a speed of 75 to 80 mph, and the landing was described as normal. The wind was reported from 220 degrees at 14 knots. During the landing roll, the pilot used left rudder and tail wheel steering to prevent the aircraft from weathervaning into the wind. Approximately 1,000 feet into the roll, the airplane made a sharp turn to the right. The pilot attempted to correct by applying opposite braking, but this did not prevent the aircraft from departing the runway.
Departure from Runway
The runway had a width of 36 feet. The aircraft exited the runway at a speed of about 40 mph, moving onto soft ground. Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over.
Post-Accident Findings
After the accident, when the aircraft was retrieved, an inspection revealed that the cable between the left rudder pedal pulley and the tail wheel was broken. This cable is part of the control system linking the rudder pedals to the tail wheel for steering.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that after touchdown, he maintained direction using left rudder and tail wheel steering in the crosswind. The sudden veer to the right occurred unexpectedly. Despite his corrective inputs, the aircraft could not be kept on the runway. He stated that the broken cable was discovered when the aircraft was retrieved.