Propane-air mixtures were burned in an effectively open-ended tube containing a screen flameholder. Two types of instability were observed. Of these, one is described in some detail. A driving mechanism is proposed and examined in the light of Rayleigh’s criterion. Finally, a linear, one-dimensional theory is presented, taking into account both the driving and damping effects in the system. The predictions of this theory are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results.