On August 11, 1998, a Cessna 120 (registration N76884) was involved in an aviation accident near Benton, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadvertant excessive use of the toe brakes during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a soft field landing, the airplane contacted a bump, then rose. The pilot applied aft elevator and rudder but inadvertently applied brakes, causing the tail to lift and the airplane to nose over.
Narrative
The pilot reported that during a soft field landing, the airplane contacted a bump in the terrain. At that moment, he felt the airplane rise up. He stated that he applied aft elevator control and used the rudder to maintain directional control. He continued to report that he inadvertently applied the brakes while attempting to maintain rudder control. When the airplane came to a stop, the tail lifted and the airplane nosed over.
Sequence of Events
The landing was being conducted on a soft field. As the airplane touched down, it struck a bump on the terrain. Following the impact, the airplane rose. The pilot responded by pulling back on the elevator and using rudder inputs to keep the airplane straight. However, while focusing on rudder control, he unintentionally applied the brakes. This action caused the airplane to pivot forward as it slowed, resulting in the tail rising and the nose making contact with the ground.