Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warrenton, Virginia 20186
Tuesady, July 31, 2001 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The CFI was giving tailwheel instruction to the private pilot. After one hour of practicing grass landings, they returned to the airport for a full-stop landing. During touchdown, the pilot applied "too much rudder," the tailwheel began to shimmy, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. No mechanical deficiencies were reported by the pilots. The CFI reported 23,000 hours of total flight time, 3,800 hours of tail wheel flight time, and 10 hours of flight time in make and model. The winds reported at an airport 8 miles away, were from 130 degrees at 3 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Warrenton
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20186
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383513N
Event Location Longitude 0774240W
Event Location Airport Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 329
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1341 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID CJR
Elevation of weather observation facility 313
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.27
Density Altitude (feet) 1403
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13370
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 2 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dulles FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N66FW
NTSB Number IAD01LA090
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Steen
Aircraft Model Skybolt
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number FDW66
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert Taylor
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Centerville
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20120
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code W66
Departure City Warrenton
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W66
Destination City Warrenton
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 3 2002 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4103
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --