NTSB Factual Report

On July 31, 2001, at 1350 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Skybolt, N66FW, was substantially damaged during landing at the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (W66), Warrenton, Virginia. The certified flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the flight instructor, he was giving tail wheel instruction to the private pilot. They practiced landings for about an hour in a grass field, and then returned to Warrenton for a full stop landing on runway 14. The flight instructor reported that the wind was "light but cross from the right," and he instructed the student to perform the landing. He stated there was "too much rudder input" at touchdown, the tail wheel began to shimmy, and the aircraft swerved to the right. The flight instructor stated he was unable to correct the swerve, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway.

The flight instructor 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. He also reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

The private pilot reported 115 hours of total flight experience, 6 hours of which were in make and model.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. According to the inspector, the fuselage was "buckled," and substantial damage was noted to the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.

The winds reported at the Culpeper Regional Airport, 8 miles away, were from 130 degrees at 3 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

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