Amateur-built Harmon Rocket N686X accident near Hayden, Idaho

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The pilot stated that he was conducting a local flight at his home airport in his tailwheel equipped airplane. As he was maneuvering around the traffic pattern, he initially planned a wheel landing, where the main landing gear touch down first, followed later with the tail wheel settling down on the runway. During touchdown, he did not add sufficient power and decided to transition to a three-point landing, in which all three landing gear touch down simultaneously. The airplane bounced upon touchdown, and he briefly lost visual sight of the runway. The airplane touched back down again with the nose pointed left of the runway centerline. Despite the pilot’s attempts to regain directional control, the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a dirt area. The right main gear dug into the terrain and the airplane nosed over. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained damage to the right wing.

The pilot reported that the airplane had no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA280 for the full record.