On November 5, 2007, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N6ZT) was involved in an aviation accident near Cortez, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate control of the aircraft during the landing rollout, which resulted from the passenger inadvertently applying the brakes while bracing for impact. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced a sudden deceleration upon touchdown, realizing the passenger had inadvertently applied the brakes while bracing for impact, causing the aircraft to nosed over.
What happened
The pilot executed a full-stall landing using conventional technique. Upon initial contact with the runway surface, the pilot reported experiencing an abrupt reduction in forward momentum accompanied by a rapid rotation of the nose upward. Recognizing the anomaly, the pilot immediately instructed the passenger to remove their feet from the brake pedals.
The pilot later stated that the passenger was unaware of applying pressure to the brakes. The individual had been bracing themselves for the impact of landing without realizing they were simultaneously depressing the braking mechanism. This unintended input caused the aircraft to decelerate excessively and pitch forward, resulting in a nosed-over attitude during the remainder of the rollout.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate control of the aircraft during the landing rollout, which resulted from the passenger inadvertently applying the brakes while bracing for impact.
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