Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1A N56TA accident near Taft, California

Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

NTSB analysis

During an instructional flight, the flight instructor and pilot undergoing instruction (student) performed multiple landings at an airport without incident before heading to the student’s private dirt airstrip. Upon arriving at the airstrip, the instructor demonstrated one landing. The student performed the second landing, and during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the right. Both the student and flight instructor applied the left rudder and brake in an attempt to correct back to the airstrip; however, the airplane continued to veer off the right side of the airstrip, where it struck a dirt mound and came to rest inverted.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage and tail sections.

A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots reported that the wind was calm at the time of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA316 for the full record.