Vickers-Armstrong Ltd SPITFIRE IX N633VS accident near Deer Park, Washington

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a crosswind.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing roll with a 90° left crosswind at 6 kts, the airplane had a slight drift to the left after touchdown. He attempted corrective inputs by using a combination of right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued drifting to the left and departed the runway. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane collided with the dirt surface, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing.

The pilot initially reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that a gust of wind pushed the tail of the airplane’s tail to the right. The pilot later stated he suspected the right brake had locked during landing, which he said would have reduced the braking effectiveness on the right side. Pictures of skid marks on the runway associated with the right tire show a lighter and narrower skid mark initially parallel to the runway heading, that increased in width and darkness as it turned to the left to where the airplane exited the runway. The right main tire was flat spotted and worn through about ½ the thickness of the sidewall. The airplane was not examined or secured after the accident due to the pilot’s initial assessment that there were no abnormalities or malfunctions with the airplane, and that the airplane had been affected by wind. The evidence is consistent with the pilot’s testimony that he applied right rudder and brake to counter the left turn during landing rollout with a left crosswind.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR23LA268 for the full record.