Piper PA 18-150 N74843 accident near Bethel, Maine

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taxiing after landing during gusty wind conditions.

NTSB analysis

According to the pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane, he landed on runway 32 with a left quartering headwind. He stopped the airplane and initiated a turn in order to back taxi to exit the runway. As the airplane turned, the pilot pushed the control stick forward to keep the tail of the airplane down. However, during the turn, a "gust [of wind] lifted the tail" of the airplane, it nosed over, and came to rest inverted resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, rudder, and right wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport about the time of the accident was from 320 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 24 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14CA188 for the full record.