Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent and premature use of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he circled the farm field to check the condition of the landing area prior to landing. During the landing roll, he inadvertently stepped on the brakes prior to the tailwheel touching down and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA060 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 8, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Watertown, South Dakota
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-22-160
- N-number
- N3029Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.