N824RSSqueglia R/Wheeler W HUMMEL BIRD · 2001

According to the pilot, he had flown the tail-wheeled airplane earlier in the day and decided to go flying again. The pilot stated that he completed the takeoff and traffic pattern "without incident," and flew a "stable approach" to runway 9, compensating for a crosswind by positioning the airplane into a left crab angle. As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the pilot applied right rudder to align it with the runway, as well as left aileron to prevent it from drifting to the right. The pilot stated that he "over corrected" with left aileron and the airplane began to drift to the left. The airplane touched down "firmly," and "in a full stall tail dragger attitude" on the left main landing gear, which bent laterally. As the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane became unstable, veered to the right, and struck a runway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 040 degrees at 7 knots.

The pilot/builder of an experimental, amateur-built airplane was in cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level when the engine started running rough. The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain altitude, and performed an emergency off-field landing on a road. During the landing roll the tailwheel broke; the pilot then lost control of the airplane, which impacted a metal pole, resulting in damage to the right wing forward spar. According to the pilot, the airplane had 4.5 gallons of fuel on board at departure and flew for 25 minutes prior to the accident. During examination of the airplane, the pilot/builder did not note any mechanical anomalies. The airplane was equipped with a non-certificated, 37.5 horsepower Volkswagen engine.