Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The tail wheel equipped airplane landed hard after the student pilot performed a series of touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The airplane travelled off the runway to the left and came to rest in the grass. The pilot sustained serious injuries, which prevented him from recalling the accident circumstances. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the airplane’s flight control system did not reveal any mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.