What happened
The pilot-in-command was conducting a refamiliarization flight in a Piper PA-18 aircraft. During this operation, the owner of the aircraft occupied the rear seat as second-in-command while the pilot sat in the front. On the third landing of the session, the aircraft encountered soft terrain near the end of the rollout phase. The pilot reported that applying the brakes worsened the situation, causing the wheels to dig into the ground and resulting in a nose-over incident.
Findings
In a subsequent telephone conversation, the pilot-in-command admitted that the final approach was flown high and fast, leading to an overshoot of the planned touchdown point. The owner confirmed that the aircraft was equipped with oversized tires and Cleveland brakes.