19980411006499A

(Tty) acft ran off the rwy after landing and struck trees. Morrilton, AR. (.4)during landing roll on runway 20, the aircraft abruptly veered left and departed the runway impacting a tree. The pilot reported that 'very little' cross wind correction was required during the landing. During the landing roll, he held the tail off until it came down 'normally.' A short distance after the tail wheel touched down the aircraft started to veer to the left. 'Normal amount of correction (right rudder) was totally ineffective.' The aircraft departed the left side of the runway with 'full right rudder, right brake locked, and stick full back.' The aircraft was recovering to the right when it slid into a tree. The pilot reported that the wind was from 170 degrees at 4 to 5 knots. His examination of the aircraft after the event did not reveal any mechanical problems with the flight controls. The pilot had accumulated at total of 99 hours in his tailwheel equipped airplane. (-23) at about 7:20 pm on 04/11/98, waxenfelter T-18, N18WX, piloted by owner/builder jack waxenfelter, executed a crosswind approach and landing at p etit Jean park airport (mpj). The approach and touchdown were normal, but on roll-out, approximately 2/3 of the way down the runway, directional control of the aircraft was lost, and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway at a 45 degree angle, colliding with trees on the south side of the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured. Contributing to the loss of directional control on roll-out was the fact that the aircraft entered that portion of the runway that transitions from open fields to a cleared opening through a wooded are, changing the characteristics and predictability of the crosswind. Also, the main tires were carrying 40 PSI pressure, which negatively influenced the aircraft's ground handling characteristics.