N187WS

On March 9, 2005, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Savage RV-8 experimental airplane, N187WS, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot, nosed over during landing at Cox - Grantham Airfield, a private airstrip in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Goldsboro - Wayne Municipal Airport, Goldsboro, North Carolina, at 1310.

The pilot stated he entered a left downwind for runway 03 and looked at the windsock, and winds were light to moderate. The pilot continued in the pattern for runway 03 and stated the approach was normal with a slip to a wheels-landing touchdown approximately 500 feet down the runway. The pilot stated that, during the landing roll at approximately 60 to 65 knots, the tail of the airplane lifted. The pilot stated he applied full aft stick, but the tail continued to rise, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over.

Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the wings, propeller, vertical stabilizer, and canopy; the firewall was displaced aft, and the fuselage was buckled aft of the cabin. The pilot, who was the builder of the airplane, reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. He stated he completed a modification to the rudder pedals a few days earlier, and the change allowed his feet to sit higher on the pedals. He stated he believed he unintentionally applied light brake pressure during the touchdown and landing roll.

A review of recorded weather data from Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, North Carolina, located 11 nautical miles east of the accident site, revealed at 1355 reported winds were from 240 degrees at 9 knots, variable between 190 and 290 degrees. A review of recorded weather data from Goldsboro - Wayne Municipal Airport, Goldsboro, North Carolina, located 14.6 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, revealed at 1340 reported winds were from 200 degrees at 7 knots.