A home-built small aircraft swerved off the runway.

Attributes
ACN	315129
Time
Date	199508
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : q40
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	315129
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was attempting to land an experimental airplane (kitfox). This was my first flight in the aircraft. The wind was approximately 6-8 KTS quartering from the left with some stronger gusts approximately 8-10 KTS. After touchdown and upon rollout, the aircraft veered left. I attempted to stop the swerve with full right rudder to no avail. I also attempted to use right brake but was unsuccessful in reaching the brake. (Probably due to lack of familiarity). The airplane swerved off the runway and folded the right main gear under the fuselage. The right wing then struck the ground. The airplane was put on a trailer and taken to the hangar. No notification was made to the FAA because, in my opinion, the damage did not warrant a report (my opinion was based on the NTSB part 830.15A). There were no injuries to myself or any property damage except the aircraft. I believe the cause of the accident was based on: 1) my unfamiliarity of the aircraft, 2) improper decision to fly aircraft in less than calm conditions, 3) less than ideal brake placement (newer models have been improved/redesigned).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HOME-BUILT SMA SWERVED OFF THE RWY.

Narrative: I WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE (KITFOX). THIS WAS MY FIRST FLT IN THE ACFT. THE WIND WAS APPROX 6-8 KTS QUARTERING FROM THE L WITH SOME STRONGER GUSTS APPROX 8-10 KTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND UPON ROLLOUT, THE ACFT VEERED L. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE SWERVE WITH FULL R RUDDER TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO ATTEMPTED TO USE R BRAKE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THE BRAKE. (PROBABLY DUE TO LACK OF FAMILIARITY). THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RWY AND FOLDED THE R MAIN GEAR UNDER THE FUSELAGE. THE R WING THEN STRUCK THE GND. THE AIRPLANE WAS PUT ON A TRAILER AND TAKEN TO THE HANGAR. NO NOTIFICATION WAS MADE TO THE FAA BECAUSE, IN MY OPINION, THE DAMAGE DID NOT WARRANT A RPT (MY OPINION WAS BASED ON THE NTSB PART 830.15A). THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO MYSELF OR ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE EXCEPT THE ACFT. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS BASED ON: 1) MY UNFAMILIARITY OF THE ACFT, 2) IMPROPER DECISION TO FLY ACFT IN LESS THAN CALM CONDITIONS, 3) LESS THAN IDEAL BRAKE PLACEMENT (NEWER MODELS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED/REDESIGNED).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.