No fatalities

19 Aug 2010: PIPER PA-18 — Richard Cole — Buena, WA

Buena, WA, United States

On 19 Aug 2010, a PIPER PA-18 operated by Richard Cole was involved in an aviation accident near Buena, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s excessive brake application, resulting in a nose over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot conducting practice landings reported a nose-over after applying brakes on the second touchdown. No mechanical issues were noted; the pilot suggested less brake pressure might have prevented the incident.

Incident Overview

A pilot departed for a local practice flight, climbing to 2,500 feet. Noting bumps, he decided to practice landings at a grass strip. Observing an American flag indicating no wind, he completed an uneventful first touch-and-go landing, touching down on the main landing gear without bounce, allowing the tail wheel to contact, then applying power for takeoff.

Event Sequence

On the downwind leg, the flag showed variable wind less than 5 knots. The second touchdown was soft with no bounce, and the airplane tracked straight. The pilot detected that the second landing might have been slightly faster with a more level attitude. After applying brakes, the airplane nosed over.

Pilot Statement

The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine. In hindsight, he felt the nose-over would not have occurred if he had applied less brake pressure.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationPilot