On January 14, 2007, a Cessna 140 (registration N18WB) operated by Miller Aviation, Llc was involved in an aviation accident near San Jose, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's excessive use of the airplane's wheel brakes, which resulted in a nose over during landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing roll-out, the pilot applied wheel brakes to exit the runway, causing the airplane to nose over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions and suggested that less braking and full aft control wheel could have prevented the accident.
Incident Summary
A pilot experienced a nose-over event during the landing roll-out phase of a flight. According to the pilot's report, the accident occurred when he applied the wheel brakes in an effort to exit the runway. The application of brakes led to the airplane nosing over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Pilot Statement
In a written report to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot expressed that the accident could have "likely" been prevented by two actions: applying less brake pressure and ensuring that the control wheel was held full aft. These measures, in the pilot's assessment, would have mitigated the risk of the nose-over event.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was based solely on the pilot's account, as no other information was provided. No mechanical issues were reported, indicating that the event was operational in nature. The pilot's recommendations highlight the importance of brake management and proper control inputs during landing roll-out.