Accident Details
During a wheels-landing touchdown on runway 03, the airplane's tail lifted during the landing roll at approximately 60 to 65 knots. The pilot applied full aft stick, but the tail continued to rise, resulting in the propeller striking the ground and the airplane nosing over. The pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that he had completed a modification to the rudder pedals a few days earlier, which allowed his feet to sit higher on the pedals. He believed that he unintentionally applied light brake pressure during the touchdown and landing roll, which may have contributed to the tail lift. However, he did not assert this as a definitive cause, and no mechanical issues were identified.
Weather Information
The pilot entered a left downwind for runway 03, and the windsock indicated light to moderate winds. Recorded weather data from Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, North Carolina, located 11 nautical miles east of the accident site, showed at 1355 winds were from 240 degrees at 9 knots, varying between 190 and 290 degrees.