What happened
A pilot was performing a landing in a remote area for the purpose of fishing. The landing site consisted of a gravel surface approximately 1,000 feet in length, oriented on a 090/270 degree heading.
The pilot reported landing toward the west side of the strip. As the aircraft approached the end of the landing area, the pilot applied the brakes and initiated a turn at taxi speed. During this maneuver, the left main wheel struck a soft patch of sand, causing the aircraft to nose over.
The investigation
An inspection conducted by an aircraft mechanic on August 28, 1995, revealed that the left wheel brake cylinder contained contamination. This contamination prevented the brake from releasing once pressure had been applied. Following a cleaning procedure, the brake cylinder was found to be functioning properly.