What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While landing with a crosswind on runway 35 at Leesburg, VA. The wind shifted to a tailwind. Aircraft departed the runway striking a runway marker doing substantial damage to the aircraft. (.4) the certified flight instructor was introducing the commercial pilot to tailwheel operations. The commercial pilot had accomplished approximately six landings in the airplane. During the next landing, the pilots experienced a crosswind, followed by a tailwind. The airplane stalled, bounced, and traveled off the left side of the runway. The instructor stated that he took control of the airplane, prevented a ground loop, but was unable to keep the airplane on the runway. The airplane struck a runway sign, causing substantial damage to the empennage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE LANDING WITH A CROSSWIND ON RUNWAY 35 AT LEESBURG, VA. THE WIND SHIFTED TO A TAILWIND. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY STRIKING A RUNWAY MARKER DOING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. (.4) THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS INTRODUCING THE COMMERCIAL PILOT TO TAILWHEEL OPERATIONS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD ACCOMPLISHED APPROXIMATELY SIX LANDINGS IN THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE NEXT LANDING, THE PILOTS EXPERIENCED A CROSSWIND, FOLLOWED BY A TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, BOUNCED, AND TRAVELED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, PREVENTED A GROUND LOOP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A RUNWAY SIGN, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N78659 · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.