Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing rollout.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that he checked the wind direction by flying over the airport and he determined that runway 30 was favored. Upon landing, the tail rose and the aircraft nosed over when, according to the pilot, brakes were applied as the aircraft slowed to approximately 10 miles per hour. The pilot reported that when he exited the aircraft, after the accident, he 'noticed that the wind direction had changed and [the wind had] picked up speed.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 13, 1996, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Cessna 150F, N8093F, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed over during the landing roll on runway 30 at the Plains Airport, Plains, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight which had originated at Plains about one hour before the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot stated that he checked the wind by flying over the airport and he determined that runway 30 was favored for landing. Upon landing, the tail rose and the aircraft nosed over when, according to the pilot, brakes were applied as the aircraft slowed to approximately 10 miles per hour. The pilot reported that when he exited the aircraft, after the accident, he "noticed that the wind direction had changed and [the wind had] picked up speed." The National Transportation Safety Board was notified on May 1, 1996, that the airplane had been substantially damaged. -