Accident Narrative
A tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage after a landing accident at a tower-controlled airport. The pilot reported that during a wheel landing, as the tail settled onto the runway, the airplane became "sideways on the runway" in a "fraction of a second." The airplane then skidded off the runway to the right, causing the right main landing gear to collapse and the right wing to impact the terrain. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather and ATC Information
The automated weather observing system at the airport recorded, about two minutes before the accident, wind from 360 degrees true at 11 knots. A wind shift and frontal passage were recorded about three minutes before the accident. The pilot landed on runway 12 left. According to an Air Traffic Control transcript, the accident airplane made initial contact with the tower reporting 3 miles east inbound. The tower responded with wind 010 at 18 knots and cleared the airplane to land on runway 12 left. About 40 seconds later, a ground controller held a taxiing jet, noting wind 360 at 16 knots as a "pretty strong tailwind." About 30 seconds later, the tower directed the accident airplane to enter a left downwind for runway 12 left and provided landing clearance a second time. About 20 seconds later, a second airplane reported inbound and was directed to enter a left downwind for runway 12 left; the tower reported wind 360 at 15 knots. About 25 seconds later, the second airplane requested to land on runway 30 right instead, and the tower directed it to a left downwind for runway 30 left, while the accident airplane continued and landed on runway 12 left.
Pilot Statement
The pilot submitted an additional statement: "1) Tower assigned a runway with a known quartering tail wind, up to 18 knots. 2) As pilot in command, I did not process the wind call out prior to landing." According to the Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement, a wind sock was located to the left of the runway within the final approach path. The flight was conducted under day visual meteorological conditions, and the airplane entered the pattern on a left downwind, making the wind sock likely visible to the pilot. However, the pilot reported that he did not observe the wind sock.
Regulatory Reference
14 CFR Part 91.3 titled "Responsibility and authority of the pilot in command" states: "The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft."