Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway.
NTSB analysis
The pilot said that before the accident flight he changed the tailwheel assembly, which resulted in an increase in tire width. He said that he made the change so that the tailwheel would "float" during the landing roll on turf runways. The pilot was landing at a local airport when the tailwheel experienced a severe shimmy on touchdown. The airplane started to pull and then veer off the left side of the runway and impacted a ditch, despite the pilot's rudder application. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed no preimpact anomalies.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11LA281 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 2, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Brookfield, Missouri
- Nearest airport
- North Central Missouri Regiona (MO8)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built Avid Mark IV
- N-number
- N6313T
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.