Event GAA20CA040

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll on an uphill, 600 to 700 ft unimproved landing strip, he applied brakes and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, tail cone, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was about 4 knots from the east. The airplane landed to the west. The pilot that he landed at this landing strip 2 days prior to the accident flight. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on an uphill, 600- to 700-ft-long unimproved landing strip, he applied brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, tail cone, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Incorrect use/operation - C