Narrative:

I was receiving instruction for transition training in the waco upf 7 from a CFI who was acting as pilot in command. We departed and received clearance for the option from the tower. Upon touching down for a wheel landing on the main landing gear with the tail still up in the air; the aircraft started to swerve slightly to the right. At that point I applied left brake and rudder; and the aircraft suddenly pivoted around the left main wheel to the left. I tried to apply right rudder; but the aircraft departed the left side of the runway on a straight line into the grass. Upon leaving the runway; the aircraft struck a runway light pole before I brought it to a stop. I advised the tower that we were on the grass and reported that we wanted to taxi to the ramp to shut down and inspect the aircraft for damage. We were told to contact ground control. I told ground control that we were on the grass and that we wanted to taxi to the ramp to shut down and inspect the damage. I also advised ground control that we had knocked down a runway light pole. We were cleared to taxi to the ramp; where we shut down and inspected the aircraft for damage. The CFI; who is also an a and P mechanic with inspection authorization; carefully inspected the aircraft and determined that there was no substantial damage and that the aircraft was airworthy. We called the tower on the telephone; and we eventually were advised to contact the local FSDO by phone prior to departing which we did. The FSDO authorized us to fly the aircraft back to home field after the CFI/a and P assured him that there was no damage affecting airworthiness. The reason for the uncommanded turn to the left off the runway was the improper application of left brake while the tail was still in the air. Proper input would have been left rudder only; without brakes. The safety lesson learned was never to apply one brake to correct a swerve before the tail of the aircraft is on the ground.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Waco student and instructor report inappropriate brake usage during a wheel landing resulting in a runway excursion.

Narrative: I was receiving instruction for transition training in the WACO UPF 7 from a CFI who was acting as pilot in command. We departed and received clearance for the option from the Tower. Upon touching down for a wheel landing on the main landing gear with the tail still up in the air; the aircraft started to swerve slightly to the right. At that point I applied left brake and rudder; and the aircraft suddenly pivoted around the left main wheel to the left. I tried to apply right rudder; but the aircraft departed the left side of the runway on a straight line into the grass. Upon leaving the runway; the aircraft struck a runway light pole before I brought it to a stop. I advised the Tower that we were on the grass and reported that we wanted to taxi to the ramp to shut down and inspect the aircraft for damage. We were told to contact Ground Control. I told Ground Control that we were on the grass and that we wanted to taxi to the ramp to shut down and inspect the damage. I also advised Ground Control that we had knocked down a runway light pole. We were cleared to taxi to the ramp; where we shut down and inspected the aircraft for damage. The CFI; who is also an A and P mechanic with inspection authorization; carefully inspected the aircraft and determined that there was no substantial damage and that the aircraft was airworthy. We called the Tower on the telephone; and we eventually were advised to contact the local FSDO by phone prior to departing which we did. The FSDO authorized us to fly the aircraft back to home field after the CFI/A and P assured him that there was no damage affecting airworthiness. The reason for the uncommanded turn to the left off the runway was the improper application of left brake while the tail was still in the air. Proper input would have been left rudder only; without brakes. The safety lesson learned was never to apply one brake to correct a swerve before the tail of the aircraft is on the ground.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.