No fatalities

Tailwheel Aircraft Nosed Over During Taxiing

Arlington, WA, United States

On May 18, 2014, a PIPER PA 18A 105SPECIAL operated by EVERGREEN SOARING INC was involved in an aviation accident near Arlington, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper application of brakes during taxi in tailwind conditions, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent nose over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over and sustained substantial tail damage during taxiing after a crosswind shifted to a tailwind. The pilot and passenger may have applied the brakes simultaneously.

Incident Overview During taxiing, a tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a change in wind conditions, with a slight crosswind becoming a tailwind. The pilot reported that both he and his passenger may have applied the brakes at the same time. This action caused the aircraft to nose over, resulting in substantial damage to the tail section. ## Mechanical Condition No preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure was reported that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft. The incident appears to have been related to the combination of changing wind conditions and simultaneous brake application by the pilot and passenger.

Contributing factors

Causes

Incorrect use/operationDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment