N5639H

On December 6, 2000, approximately 1110 Pacific standard time, a tailwheel-equipped, Piper PA-16, N5639H, nosed over during the landing roll at Siletz Bay State Airport, Gleneden Beach, Oregon. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo training flight, which departed Independence Airport, Independence, Oregon, about 25 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft was on a VFR flight plan. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the student pilot, his approach was "right on target," and his touchdown was "smooth." But, during the rollout, the aircraft started to drift toward the right side of the runway. The pilot applied left rudder, which eventually was pushed to its travel limit, but according to the pilot, the aircraft continued to drift to the right. He therefore started applying brakes, hoping to stop the aircraft before it departed the runway. As he approached the edge of the runway surface, the pilot increased his braking pressure. He said he was "too hard on the brakes and the nose of the airplane went down." The aircraft then stood on its nose and fell slowly over on its back.