MUDGE RAY KIT FOX 5 near Bowling Green, OH — 2012-08-30

Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction's excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor was getting the pilot familiarized in his new tail wheel-equipped airplane. A week before the accident, the flight instructor and the pilot flew the airplane and the pilot made several uneventful landings even though the instructor noted that it was difficult to apply pressure on the rudder pedals without engaging the brakes. On the day of the accident, the pilot made two uneventful landings on a hard-surface runway before landing on grass due to a wind shift. The pilot's first grass landing was uneventful. However, on the second landing, the pilot applied too much brake pressure and the airplane nosed over. The flight instructor said the accident happened so fast that he did not have enough time to tell the pilot to get off the brakes.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Human factors

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have been advised to manage brake pressure better during landing.

NTSB coding

• Loss of control on ground · Landing-landing roll

Evidence available

• 1 docket document

Docket documents1

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form

Related mishaps

• CESSNA A185F

  2026-06-27 · Angel Fire, NM

• CESSNA 180H

  2026-06-21 · Port Angeles, WA

• CESSNA 140

  2026-06-01 · Pasco, WA

• EAA Acro Sport II

  2026-05-31 · Sheridan, AR

• PITTS SPECIAL S-1S

  2026-05-29 · Bartlesville, OK

• GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP GVII-G600

  2026-05-27 · Birmingham, AL