Summary
On July 12, 2019, a Piper PA 20 (N7409K) was involved in an accident near Hamilton, MT. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's loss of directional control due to his unintentional use of brakes instead of the rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, upon landing and approaching the taxiway he intended to exit, he lifted his feet from the "rudderbars" to engage the brakes. The airplane abruptly entered into a left turn and he "jabbed at the right rudder," but mistakenly utilized brake pedal. The airplane immediately nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and rudder.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 6 knots.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA408. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7409K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's loss of directional control due to his unintentional use of brakes instead of the rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, upon landing and approaching the taxiway he intended to exit, he lifted his feet from the "rudderbars" to engage the brakes. The airplane abruptly entered into a left turn and he "jabbed at the right rudder," but mistakenly utilized brake pedal. The airplane immediately nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut and rudder.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 6 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 34.
The pilot reported that he believes the accident could have been avoided "if [he] had kept [his] feet on the rudderbars until [he] had exited the runway."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA408