Accident Summary
On the day of the accident, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane was conducting a landing. During the final approach, the pilot applied a standard crosswind technique. Just before touchdown, the airplane's nose shifted 25 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. After touchdown, the pilot attempted to correct the deviation using rudder and aileron inputs, but the airplane continued to veer left and exited the runway surface.
Events Leading to the Accident
During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed after the departure from the runway. Subsequently, the right wing impacted the terrain. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Damage
As a result of the runway excursion and impact with terrain, the right wing sustained substantial damage.
Meteorological Conditions
The pilot reported that a crosswind existed during the final approach, and the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind at the time of touchdown. An automated weather observing system at the airport recorded the wind at 020 degrees true at 5 knots around the time of the accident, which resulted in a quartering tailwind component.