On June 11, 2003, a Cessna 140A (registration N9667A) was involved in an aviation accident near Anchorage, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's excessive application of brakes during the landing roll while the tailwheel was still off the ground, which resulted in the airplane nosing over and sustaining structural damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot practicing short field landings on a gravel airstrip applied brakes too early while the tailwheel was still airborne, causing the aircraft to nose over and damage the vertical stabilizer.
What happened
The pilot was conducting flight operations focused on practicing short field landing techniques. The maneuver was being performed in a tailwheel-equipped airplane situated on a gravel airstrip. During the landing roll phase, the pilot applied the brakes with excessive force while the aircraft's tailwheel remained off the ground.
This premature braking action caused the airplane to nose over. As a result of the impact, the aircraft sustained structural damage specifically to the vertical stabilizer.
Probable cause
The pilot's excessive application of brakes during the landing roll while the tailwheel was still off the ground, which resulted in the airplane nosing over and sustaining structural damage.