Accident Narrative
During the landing roll on a private dirt strip, the airplane began to veer off the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left. It departed the landing environment and nosed over. The leading edge of both wings was crushed aft, the fabric wrinkled, several ribs were broken, and the firewall was wrinkled. The top portion of the rudder was crushed down.
Pilot Report
According to the accident report form submitted by the pilot, he observed tracks on the ground where the left tire was dragging as if it had locked up. The pilot stated that the airplane does not have differential brakes. He also reported that the master cylinder for the brake system is located a few inches above the exhaust muffler, and when the cylinder is hot, it results in the brakes dragging.
FAA Examination
An airworthiness inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration conducted an examination of the airplane systems, including the flight controls, wheels, and brakes. The examination revealed no anomalies.
Runway Conditions
The inspector reported that the runway surface and shoulder were 'very soft.' Pictures of the runway environment revealed ruts from previous takeoffs and landings as well as from the accident flight. The inspector reported that the ruts from the accident flight indicated the airplane touched down left of the centerline on the runway.