This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
During a tailwheel transition instructional flight, I was the instructor in the back seat of the Champion Citabria 7ECA and the pilot receiving instruction was in the front seat.
Pilot made a normal 3-point touchdown on mains and tailwheel simultaneously. The plane touched down then rose back into the air, yawing to the right about 30°. Both of us applied full power for a go-around.
It was a warm day and we had been flying with the left window open. I had been flying with a loose fitting cap under my headset. When full power was applied, the wind blast came in through the window and knocked my cap back, taking the headset and my glasses with it. This startled and distracted me enough that I failed to straighten the airplane out to align with the runway center line.
As the airplane started to accelerate, it touched down, unfortunately headed off the runway. When I noticed this, I chopped the power to idle and pulled the stick hard back to keep the tail on the ground.
As we went into the dirt, the airplane started decelerating rapidly and I then added power and steered us back on the runway. I then returned control over to the student while I fished out my gear from the floor of the airplane.
Luckily, there was no damage to the airplane and no runway lights were struck.
This was entirely my fault for not straightening out the airplane. I’d like to think I’m experienced enough that I wouldn’t have been startled but apparently not. This event was terribly embarrassing and just proves that no one is immune in an event like this.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2165058
When you click on the link it will take you to the ASRS Online Database. Click on Report Number and put the ACN in the search box, then click Search. On that page, click on “view only the 1 most recent report.”
We can add an item in the checklist to check the headset adjustment is stronger than usual when windy days or gusts are present, then we add an item for each of the one thousand things may happen, then we go to the aerodrome two hours before take off to complete the checklist. You didn’t fail, it’s just one of the many things may happen, we can’t prevent all of them. Your story is enriching because it makes us think about how far we should control and prevent, at what price. Some are lucky like you and continue living and flying the same plane, some don’t. It’s the life, not that bad…