What happened
The incident occurred while a commercial certificated pilot was operating a tailwheel-converted airplane under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The flight was classified as a local personal trip when the pilot initiated the landing phase. Upon touchdown, the aircraft encountered gusty wind conditions that contributed to a hard landing. The impact caused the airplane to bounce off the runway surface. Following the bounce, the pilot lost directional control, and the aircraft veered off the side of the runway.
During this excursion, the right wing and elevator struck the ground, resulting in significant structural damage to the airframe. The pilot later reflected on the sequence of events, acknowledging that the proper response would have been to abort the landing immediately once the airplane began to veer off the paved surface. There were no reported mechanical issues with the aircraft prior to this event.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed structural damage consistent with the right wing and elevator striking the ground during the runway excursion. The pilot confirmed there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The primary factors identified were the hard landing, the subsequent bounce, and the loss of control in gusty wind conditions.
Findings
The investigation determined that the loss of directional control after a bounced landing was the critical factor. The pilot's decision not to execute a go-around when the aircraft began to veer contributed to the extent of the damage. The gusty wind conditions exacerbated the difficulty of maintaining runway alignment during the bounce recovery.
Safety message
Pilots operating tailwheel-equipped aircraft should be prepared for immediate go-around decisions if a landing becomes unstable or if directional control is compromised after touchdown, particularly in gusty wind conditions.