What happened
The accident occurred when a commercial pilot attempted to land an airplane equipped with tundra tires on a ridgetop. Conditions were challenging, with winds gusting up to 25 knots. As the aircraft touched down, the pilot applied the brakes to slow the ground speed. However, the combination of the braking force and the wind conditions caused the tail of the airplane to lift upward. The pilot released the brakes, allowing the tail to settle back down. In an attempt to maintain control or perhaps correct the attitude, the pilot then applied full aft stick pressure. This action raised the trailing edge of the elevators significantly, causing the nose of the aircraft to pitch up sharply and subsequently nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the nose-over. Key findings included the application of brakes during landing on a ridgetop, the subsequent tail lift, and the pilot's reaction of applying full aft stick. The presence of gusting winds was noted as a contributing environmental factor.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the accident were the pilot's decision to land on a ridgetop in gusty conditions and the subsequent control inputs that resulted in a nose-over. The use of tundra tires may have influenced the ground handling characteristics, but the critical error was the combination of braking and full aft stick during a tail-up attitude.
Safety message
Pilots operating in backcountry environments should be aware of the risks associated with landing on uneven or sloped surfaces like ridgetops. Gusts can significantly affect aircraft stability, especially when brakes are applied. Pilots must carefully manage control inputs to avoid nose-overs, particularly in tailwheel or high-center-of-gravity aircraft configurations.