What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated that he setup for a wheel landing on runway 1. This airport only allows landings on runway 1 due to the uphill slope. Pilot stated that he had a 5 kt. Tail wind. The approach and landing were normal then the aircraft began to turn right. The pilot applied left rudder and left brake with no response. The aircraft continued to turn to the right about 45 degrees and impacted trees on the east side of the runway. Pilot stated that the tail wheel was off the ground during the landing and the turn. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any appeared mechanical explanation for loss of control. The right hand gear was examined, and appeared to have been ripped from the aircraft due to impact, probably from the tire hitting the trees. Examination of the photos reveal a consistent tire track spacing, which would not be consistent with the damage observed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE SETUP FOR A WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 1. THIS AIRPORT ONLY ALLOWS LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 1 DUE TO THE UPHILL SLOPE. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD A 5 KT. TAIL WIND. THE APPROACH AND LANDING WERE NORMAL THEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO TURN RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND LEFT BRAKE WITH NO RESPONSE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 45 DEGREES AND IMPACTED TREES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT STATED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL WAS OFF THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING AND THE TURN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY APPEARED MECHANICAL EXPLANATION FOR LOSS OF CONTROL. THE RIGHT HAND GEAR WAS EXAMINED, AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RIPPED FROM THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO IMPACT, PROBABLY FROM THE TIRE HITTING THE TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE PHOTOS REVEAL A CONSISTENT TIRE TRACK SPACING, WHICH WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE DAMAGE OBSERVED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.