What happened
On November 8, 2010, a PIPER PA-22-160, registration N3029Z, was involved in an accident in Watertown, South Dakota. Prior to landing to the northeast, the pilot circled a farm field to inspect the condition of the landing area. During the landing roll, the pilot inadvertently applied the brakes before the tailwheel had touched the ground. This action caused the aircraft to nose over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no fatalities and one minor injury reported.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's actions during the landing phase. The pilot reported that the application of the brakes occurred prematurely, before the tailwheel reached the surface.