Pilot Debrief

RADDATZ STEVE RV 8 near Monroe, NC — 2015-06-06

Final reportERA15LA244
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Date
2015-06-06
Location
Monroe, NC, USA
Airport
EQY
Aircraft
RADDATZ STEVE RV 8
Registration
N323RP
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot stated that he made a "normal" landing in the tailwheel airplane and that the airplane began to veer right. The pilot applied rudder correction, but the airplane continued to the right, departed the runway, and traveled down an embankment. Examination of the runway revealed tire skid marks from the main landing gear consistent with the airplane touching down to the right of centerline, slightly angled toward the right side of the runway. The skid marks continued right, and departed the paved surface at an approximate 90° angle. There were no skid marks from the tailwheel. The pilot later stated that when the airplane was lifted, the tailwheel was unlocked, but the investigation could not determine whether it was unlocked before the accident or during the accident sequence. The pilot noted that postaccident maintenance of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the braking system.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have ensured tailwheel was locked before landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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