Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's inadvertent application of the brakes combined with excessive forward control pressure during recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he had made several approaches into his private dirt strip during this flight before the accident occurred. The pilot said he was attempting a wheel landing on the last approach when the aircraft bounced slightly. The pilot said his corrective action was to apply forward control pressure. He also believes he inadvertently hit the brakes as he was applying the control pressure causing the aircraft to suddenly nose over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 2, 1994, at 0900 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18- 150, N8884D, sustained substantial damage during a nose over while landing at Carico Lake Ranch, Nevada. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a local solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. The certificated student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Carico Lake Ranch airport at 0700 on the day of the mishap. The pilot reported that he had made several approaches into his private dirt strip during this flight before the accident occurred. The pilot said he was attempting a wheel landing on the last approach when the aircraft bounced slightly. The pilot said his corrective action was to apply forward control pressure. He also believes he inadvertently hit the brakes as he was applying the control pressure and the aircraft suddenly nosed over. As this occurred, the propeller struck the ground and both wings of the aircraft sustained structural damage. -