What happened
During a daylight operation on an unimproved grass strip, the pilot executed a landing that resulted in immediate loss of directional control. The aircraft's main landing gear touched down firmly on the surface, but the tail wheel failed to make contact with the ground. Utilizing only one-third of the available runway length during the landing roll, the airplane suddenly pitched forward into an inverted position.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the accident site revealed main landing gear skid marks extending approximately 305 feet along the grass strip. Upon inspection following the incident, it was determined that the main landing gear wheels would not rotate freely. This lack of rotation occurred despite confirmation that the brakes had not been applied during the event.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident included the failure of the tail wheel to contact the runway surface and the subsequent nose-over. The condition of the main landing gear wheels, which would not turn despite unapplied brakes, suggests a mechanical anomaly or pre-existing condition that may have contributed to the loss of control during the rollout.