On March 25, 1998, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 (registration N3751F) operated by Robert H. Wahl was involved in an aviation accident near Pierson, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to note the windsock before touchdown which resulted in a downwind landing, and the pilot's improper elevator control. Factors were the tailwind and the pilot's complacency. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot flying in formation landed with a reported tailwind of 4 knots, did not check the windsock, and applied brakes with the elevator stick full aft, causing the airplane to nose over during the landing roll.
Flight Details
The pilot had flown to the accident airport in formation with four other aircraft. All five aircraft landed uneventfully on runway 23, where a tailwind of 4 knots had been reported. The pilot did not examine the windsock before landing.
Landing and Accident
After touchdown, during the landing roll, the pilot held the elevator control stick full aft and then applied the brakes. The airplane nosed over as a result.
Weather Information
A weather observation taken from an airport located 21 nautical miles away indicated that the wind was from 060 degrees at 10 knots. This observation was not necessarily representative of conditions at the accident airport.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that he was complacent and believed the landing was over before the nose-over occurred.