Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadvertent toe brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel airplane reported that he made a normal approach to an asphalt runway. During the landing roll, the tail started to move to the left, and he corrected with left rudder application, but he recalled that "I may have unintentionally put pressure on the left toe brake." The airplane veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane entered a drainage culvert and ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear (MLG) collapsed, and the right wing tip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right MLG attachment point. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel airplane reported that he made a normal approach to an asphalt runway. During the landing roll, the tail started to move to the left and he corrected with left rudder application, but he recalled that, "I may have unintentionally put pressure on the left toe brake." The airplane veered to the left and exited the left side of the runway. The airplane entered a drainage culvert and ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing tip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main landing gear attachment point. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.