Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate remedial action, and his excessive brake application. Factors include improper recovery from a bounced landing, and a crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While attempting to recover from a bounced, full-stall landing, the pilot allowed the aircraft to drift off the side of the runway. Thinking that he might collide with a nearby residence, the pilot started braking hard in order to stop. His excessive brake application resulted in the aircraft flipping over. The pilot said there were variable crosswinds at the time of the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 3, 1994, approximately 1745 mountain daylight time (MDT), a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-22, N2926Z, flipped over during a landing attempt at Sunrise Sky Park, Melba, Idaho. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Caldwell, Idaho approximately 1645 MDT, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the accident, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, the airplane bounced during a full-stall landing, and when he attempted to continue the landing sequence, he ran off the side of the runway. While attempting to bring the aircraft back onto the runway, the pilot realized he might impact a nearby residence. He therefore started braking hard in order to stop. During the brake application, the aircraft flipped over. The pilot said that there were variable crosswinds at the time of the accident. -