Incident Details
The pilot of a single-engine airplane was taxiing in a southeasterly direction with a right quartering tailwind. He reported attempting to maintain a slow taxi speed by applying minimum power while holding the control yoke forward (elevator down).
Sequence of Events
During the taxi, the nose landing gear began to shimmy. In response, the pilot pulled the control yoke back and applied braking. He stated that the wind then raised the tail, causing the airplane to "wheelbarrow" on the nosegear. The airplane subsequently turned to the left, exited the taxiway, and entered onto soft dirt adjacent to the taxiway. The airplane then collided with a berm and nosed over.
Pilot Actions
The pilot's initial attempt to keep the nosewheel on the ground during the shimmy involved forward yoke pressure. When he pulled back on the yoke and braked, the tail rose, exacerbating the situation. The combination of the tailwind, wheelbarrowing, and steering inputs resulted in a loss of directional control and the eventual excursion.
Damage and Outcome
The aircraft nosed over after striking the berm. No further details on damage or injuries were provided in the source.
Investigation
No probable cause was explicitly stated in the source. The report is based solely on the pilot's account of the events.