On 12 Sep 2011, a CESSNA 120 operated by FLY-A-WAY LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Camden, AR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor's inadvertent application of the brakes during a taxi demonstration. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A tail-wheel aircraft nosed over during a post-landing taxi demonstration when the flight instructor inadvertently applied the brakes. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed.
Accident Overview
A flight instructor was demonstrating taxi techniques to a student in a tail-wheel equipped airplane after landing. During the demonstration, the instructor inadvertently applied the brakes, causing the airplane to nose over. The accident occurred while the aircraft was taxiing.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed. The flight instructor reported that no mechanical anomalies with the airplane were present prior to the accident.
Contributing Factors
No contributing factors beyond the inadvertent brake application were identified in the source material. The accident was attributed solely to the instructor's unintentional action.
Probable cause
The flight instructor's inadvertent application of the brakes during a taxi demonstration.