On October 7, 2000, a Boeing B75-N1 (registration N1066M) was involved in an aviation accident near Warrenton, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent application of the brakes during the second bounce, which led to the pitch-over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft bounced twice upon touchdown before pitching over. The pilot reported inadvertently applying brakes on the second bounce, with no mechanical issues found.
What happened
The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight. Upon initial contact with the runway surface, the main landing gear struck the ground, causing the aircraft to bounce. The airplane rebounded into the air and then settled back onto the runway for a second touchdown. During this second impact, the nose of the aircraft pitched forward violently, resulting in a pitch-over incident.
The pilot provided a statement regarding the sequence of events leading to the loss of control. He indicated that during the landing roll, he had positioned his feet too high on the rudder pedals. This positioning caused his feet to inadvertently strike the brake controls during the second bounce. The application of brakes at this critical moment contributed to the sudden pitch-over.
The investigation
Following the incident, an assessment of the aircraft was conducted to determine if mechanical failure played a role in the accident. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to or during the event. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction was identified.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent application of the brakes during the second bounce, which led to the pitch-over.