Probable cause
The passenger’s inadvertent application of brakes during landing which resulted in a nose over.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a moderate headwind. During touchdown, the airplane “skipped” over the runway surface, and turned to the left side of the runway. The passenger inadvertently applied brakes and the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer and wing struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA012 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 1, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Soda Springs, Idaho
- Nearest airport
- Allen H. Tigert Airport (U78)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Maule M-5-235C
- N-number
- N5636D
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1979
- 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.