Incident Overview
A tow plane pilot was conducting a recovery operation for a glider that had made an off-site landing on a hard gravel road. The glider's ground crew had positioned the glider approximately midway along the 4,000-foot-long road.
Approach and Landing
The pilot's approach to the road was slightly faster than intended. The airplane landed long on the downhill road, which also featured a slight tailwind. As a result, the pilot misjudged the available stopping distance required to safely halt the aircraft before reaching the stationary glider.
Nose-Over Sequence
As the tow plane approached the glider, the pilot applied heavy braking in an effort to decelerate. The application of heavy brakes caused the tow plane to nose over.
Conclusion
The accident occurred during a glider recovery operation on a gravel road. The pilot's faster-than-intended approach, long landing on a downhill slope with a tailwind, and misjudgment of stopping distance led to the nose-over after heavy braking.