What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot executed 3-point landing. On roll-out, tail wheel began to shimmy and aircraft veered to the left. In an attempt to avoid PAPI lighting on the left side of the runway, full power was applied in order to attempt flight over the lighting boxes. Aircraft struck the two left light boxes (series of 4 boxes installed) causing aircraft to pivot to the right and coming to rest in a sideways skid on all three landing gear. Landing runway 02, wind was reported at 260@8 KTS. Black rubber scalloping on runway indicates shimmy and aircraft movement to the left and off the runway. Investigation of the tail wheel assembly through visual inspection and operation on the ground reveals the tailwheel would not lock into position. Pilot stated he kept full aft stick and right rudder in his attempt to gain directional control of the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT EXECUTED 3-POINT LANDING. ON ROLL-OUT, TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO SHIMMY AND AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID PAPI LIGHTING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, FULL POWER WAS APPLIED IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT FLIGHT OVER THE LIGHTING BOXES. AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TWO LEFT LIGHT BOXES (SERIES OF 4 BOXES INSTALLED) CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO PIVOT TO THE RIGHT AND COMING TO REST IN A SIDEWAYS SKID ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR. LANDING RUNWAY 02, WIND WAS REPORTED AT 260@8 KTS. BLACK RUBBER SCALLOPING ON RUNWAY INDICATES SHIMMY AND AIRCRAFT MOVEMENT TO THE LEFT AND OFF THE RUNWAY. INVESTIGATION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY THROUGH VISUAL INSPECTION AND OPERATION ON THE GROUND REVEALS THE TAILWHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. PILOT STATED HE KEPT FULL AFT STICK AND RIGHT RUDDER IN HIS ATTEMPT TO GAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.