Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent total experience.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported, after performing an operational check on some recently installed avionic equipment, he decided to land. While on the landing roll, the pilot stated, the airplane turned 15 degrees to the right. All attempts to maintain directional control failed. The airplane exited the runway and came to rest in an inverted position. In a statement made to the faa, the pilot stated, 'i lost the [airplane] on the runway.' the pilot has a total of 51 hours in this accident make/model airplane, all of which were flown eight or nine years ago. His most recent experience consisted of two flights, seven months prior, totaling 15 minutes in no wind conditions. The reported winds at the time of the accident were 360 degrees at 8 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 28, 1994, at 1445 central standard time, an experimental Hoover Bushby MM1, N32VF, registered to Howard D. Williams of Bismarck, Missouri, was substantially damaged while landing on runway 26R at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The pilot, in a detailed written statement, reported he took off to perform an operational check on new avionic equipment which had recently been installed in his airplane. While remaining in the airport's traffic pattern, he determined all avionics were functioning properly and he decided to land. While on the landing roll, the pilot stated that the airplane turned 15 degrees to the right. All attempts to maintain directional control failed. The airplane exited the runway and came to rest in an inverted position. No preimpact mechanical or control anomalies were reported by the pilot. In a statement made to the FAA the pilot stated, "I lost the [airplane] on the runway." The pilot has a total of 8,500 hours of flight time in various tailwheel airplanes. He has a total of 51 hours in this accident make/model airplane, all of which were flown eight or nine years ago. His most recent experience consisted of two flights, seven months prior, totaling 15 minutes in no wind conditions. The reported winds at the time of the accident were 360 degrees at 8 knots. -