What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot of a Cessna C170B was performing an instructional flight with a passenger in the rear of the plane. The C170B is a tailwheel airplane. During the landing roll out the airplane lost control and departed the runway centerline, launched over a snow berm, and came to rest nose down in the snow. The incident occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 0935AM. The incident occuren at the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport, runway 33. It was discovered, after talking with the pilot, he had to "pump" the brakes before they would work properlly before taking off on the instructional flight. This was an indication the brakes were not working properlly and yet he continued with the flight. Left brake failure contributed to the loss of control leading to this incident.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT OF A CESSNA C170B WAS PERFORMING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH A PASSENGER IN THE REAR OF THE PLANE. THE C170B IS A TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT THE AIRPLANE LOST CONTROL AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE, LAUNCHED OVER A SNOW BERM, AND CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN IN THE SNOW. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2026, AT 0935AM. THE INCIDENT OCCUREN AT THE WARRENTON-FAUQUIER AIRPORT, RUNWAY 33. IT WAS DISCOVERED, AFTER TALKING WITH THE PILOT, HE HAD TO "PUMP" THE BRAKES BEFORE THEY WOULD WORK PROPERLLY BEFORE TAKING OFF ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THIS WAS AN INDICATION THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLLY AND YET HE CONTINUED WITH THE FLIGHT. LEFT BRAKE FAILURE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL LEADING TO THIS INCIDENT.