Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of wheel brakes.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane was being positioned to the airfield to load chemicals for aerial application. According to the pilot, after landing on the wet sod runway he applied the wheel brakes too heavily, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 10, 1994, about 0730 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N8896H, nosed over during the landing roll at Vanceboro, North Carolina. The airplane was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules, by Lee Flying Service, Inc. A flight plan was not filed for the positioning flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Washington, North Carolina about 0700, on the same morning. The pilot reported that he landed at the field where he was to load chemicals for an aerial application flight. The grass of the sod airstrip was wet. He reported that he applied the wheel brakes too heavily, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer was crushed. There were no mechanical malfunctions, according to the pilot. -