On October 16, 1987, a Boeing A75N1 (registration N53488) operated by Joseph R. Hudson was involved in an aviation accident near Milton, DE. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER BRAKE APPLICATION DURING A 'WHEEL' LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT NOSING OVER. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a wheel landing on a sloped airstrip, the aircraft touched down tail-high on a crest, continued downslope with a quartering tailwind, then nosed over after brake application, ending inverted on the grass.
Landing Sequence
According to the check pilot, the pilot performed a wheel landing on the accident aircraft. The touchdown occurred on top of a crest in the airstrip with the tail held high. The aircraft then continued down the slight slope while experiencing a quartering tailwind.
Nose-Over Event
As the aircraft descended the slope, the pilot applied the brakes. Immediately afterward, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted on the grass strip. The check pilot provided these observations following the incident.
Conditions and Outcomes
The check pilot described the landing as a wheel landing, a technique often used on tailwheel aircraft. The combination of a tail-high touchdown on a crest, a downslope, and a quartering tailwind preceded the brake application. The aircraft ended up inverted on the grass, with no further details on damage or injuries provided by the source.