Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 350; Flight Crew Total 800; Flight Crew Type 9
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
I was not present when the event occurred. I am the instructor who signed off this student for solo. The winds were calm; the student was proficient; and to my knowledge; the aircraft was well maintained when I provided instruction to him the previous day. The following is what the student told me. After touch down; the student attempted to make an early exit; and allowed the stick to return to neutral and applied brakes. This caused the tail wheel to lift off the ground and he lost control of the aircraft. He told me that his wingtip touched the ground and there may have been damage to one of the wings. He stated that he will have the aircraft manufacturer or other qualified mechanic inspect; repair and return the aircraft to service. To my understanding; the cause of the event was the student's failure to keep the stick in the full aft position; combined with excessive braking. This appears to be the result of a momentary lapse of judgement on his part. The student was highly proficient in all procedures involving taxi; takeoff and landing of the aircraft. This error was not made on any recent instructional flights. Following the procedures taught to him by his instructors (keeping the stick full aft; minimizing brake usage; and taking the next exit) would have prevented the event from occurring.
Flight Instructor reported that the student reported loss of aircraft control on landing rollout during solo flight in a tailwheel aircraft.