Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11; Flight Crew Total 782; Flight Crew Type 782
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Airport; Human Factors
I was in trail following a friend to the airport; my first day solo in a tailwheel airplane. We were communicating. He advised that he would land and roll-out to end of runway (grass) and that I should land and we would both back taxi. I was too close in trail. He landed; but then decided to back taxi immediately. I was on the ground rolling out as he began his 180 back taxi turn. I told him to stop over the radio. He was near the center line of runway and there was no room for me pass him. I steered left of center to avoid hitting him and rolled off the runway into shrubs and saplings traveling at less than 20 mph; engine at idle. Prop struck 3/4' to 1' diameter saplings and stopped. There was no visible damage to airplane. I was not injured. Plane was towed with a strap and pickup truck back onto runway and inspected. Again; no visible damage. I preflighted the airplane; started the engine and completed pre-take off check list including longer than usual run up. All indications were normal. I departed and returned the airplane to it home base. In hindsight; if he had a problem landing; I am not sure I had enough room/speed to go around. Lesson learned was don't land unless runway is completely clear regardless of previous arrangements.
Small aircraft pilot landing at non-towered airport reported the traffic they followed back taxied on the runway as they were landing causing them to take evasive action and leave the runway.