Tailwheel Aircraft Ground Accident Involving Left Brake Application

Incident Overview and Pilot Report During a landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot reported inadvertently applying the left brake. This action caused the aircraft to veer abruptly to the left. As a result, the right wing and horizontal stabilizer struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Postaccident Examination A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the right wing, right horizontal, and right elevator. The investigation noted that the pilot's report of inadvertent left brake application was the primary factor leading to the ground contact and subsequent damage.