Champion 7EC N4346C accident near Highgate, Vermont

Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that upon touching down on the turf runway, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began a “moderate excursion to the right” and that he applied left rudder and brakes to correct. The airplane then veered left and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and the lift struts of both wings. The pilot stated that the turf along the airplane’s landing roll path was “torn up,” and was likely the result of excessive braking. The pilot also reported that while he had extensive experience flying tailwheel equipped airplanes they had all been fitted with modern hydraulically actuated braking systems, while the accident airplane was equipped with the original mechanical/drum brakes. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA260 for the full record.