Incident Overview
A pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a three-point landing on a dry lakebed, the main landing gear encountered an unseen undulation in the landing pathway. This caused the airplane to bounce. When the main landing gear touched down again, the pilot applied heavy braking, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount, right wing, and left-wing lift strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, the landing was being performed on a dry lakebed surface. The undulation that triggered the bounce was not visible prior to touchdown. After the bounce and subsequent touchdown, the heavy braking input caused the tailwheel airplane to overturn forward.