Probable cause
The pilot’s overapplication of the wheel brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
NTSB analysis
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.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA18TA179 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 25, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lexington, North Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Davidson County (EXX)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Stearman B75
- N-number
- N52584
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1941
- 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.