LAX08CA048

The pilot took off with the intent of flying around the traffic pattern. The pilot's first two attempted landings terminated in go-arounds after the airplane experienced a series of bounces on the runway. On the third attempted landing, the pilot lost directional control. The airplane swerved off the runway and went into a ditch. The pilot's experience flying tailwheel airplanes was 3 hours and he had not received a flight instructor's endorsement to act as pilot-in-command of tailwheel equipped airplanes. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

On January 19, 2008, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Waltermire Glastar, N248DW, swerved off runway 02 during landing at the Nut Tree Airport, Vacaville, California. The experimental homebuilt airplane was equipped with conventional (tail wheel) landing gear, and after exiting the runway it went into a ditch. The airplane's right wing and engine separated from the fuselage. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The passenger received a minor injury. The flight was performed under the provisions 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Vacaville about 1200.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he intended to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern. The airplane bounced on the runway during the first two attempted landings, whereupon he applied engine power and performed go-arounds.

The pilot reported that he lost directional control of the airplane during the third attempted landing. While attempting to regain control he applied full engine power and overcorrected while manipulating the flight controls. His efforts at regaining control were not successful.

The pilot also reported that his experience flying the accident model of airplane was about 3 hours. The pilot acknowledged that he did not have a logbook endorsement to fly tail wheel equipped airplanes. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction was experienced during the flight. He stated to the Safety Board investigator that the accident was "just my fault."