Incident Overview
A certificated flight instructor, accompanied by a pilot-rated passenger in the left seat, was landing a tailwheel-converted airplane in gusty, right crosswind conditions. During the landing roll, the instructor lost directional control, and the airplane departed the runway to the right before entering a ditch.
Witness and Inspector Accounts
Three pilot-rated witnesses arrived at the accident site shortly after the occurrence and reported no significant damage to the tailwheel assembly. A certificated aviation mechanic and an FAA airworthiness inspector later examined the airplane and concluded that any damage to the tailwheel was sustained during recovery efforts, not during the accident itself.
Conflicting Statements
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the instructor indicated that a structural failure of the tailwheel-mounting bracket precipitated the loss of control. However, the aircraft owner informed the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the instructor had stated he simply lost directional control during the crosswind landing, without mentioning a mechanical failure.
Summary of Findings
The investigation revealed no definitive cause for the loss of control. The reported tailwheel bracket failure was not corroborated by witnesses or subsequent inspections, and the instructor's own accounts were inconsistent.