Pilot Debrief

STEARMAN B75 near Lexington, NC — 2018-06-25

Final reportERA18TA179
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Date
2018-06-25
Location
Lexington, NC, USA
Airport
EXX
Aircraft
STEARMAN B75
Registration
N52584
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s overapplication of the wheel brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

NTSB narrative

During the second wheel landing of the flight and shortly after the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane drifted right. The commercial pilot attempted to stop the drift by applying the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The right wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that he "got on [the] brakes a little harder than I should have." Examination of the landing gear assembly and rudder control linkages did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, it is likely the pilot's overapplication of the brakes resulted in the nose-over.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided excessive braking during landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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