On 6 Oct 2016, a JOE SALOMONE SUPER CUB SQ2 NO SERIES was involved in an aviation accident near Boca Reservoir, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue the taxi on unsuitable muddy terrain, which resulted in a nose-over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A tailwheel airplane equipped with tundra tires nosed over after the pilot attempted to free the tires from muddy terrain following an off-airport landing near a reservoir. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to its vertical stabilizer and rudder.
Incident Overview
A pilot flying a tailwheel-equipped airplane fitted with tundra tires reported that after landing off-airport adjacent to a reservoir, the aircraft's tires became stuck in muddy terrain. In an attempt to free the tires, the pilot elected to "use power and elevator to unstick the tires." This maneuver successfully loosened the tires from the mud; however, when the pilot applied additional power, the airplane nosed over.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder. No other damage was reported in the source.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with either the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft had been operating normally before the incident.