| Crash location | 36.898889°N, 89.561667°W |
| Nearest city | Sikeston, MO
36.876719°N, 89.587858°W 2.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N19CK |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 06 Sep 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Bellanca 8GCBC |
| Additional details: | None |
On September 6, 2003, at 1000 central daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N19CK, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while landing on a private airstrip (2,500 feet by 75 feet, packed gravel and grass) near Sikeston, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport (SIK), Sikeston, Missouri, at 0950.
According to the pilot's written statement, prior to landing he had flown over the airstrip and noticed the winds were light from the north. The pilot reported he flew an uneventful traffic pattern until touchdown. The pilot stated, "As soon as the main gear touched the ground the wheels immediately dug in as if they were not turning... ." The pilot continued to say "The [airplane] immediately went to a very tail high attitude. I pulled the stick all the way back, but the [airplane] was already too tail high to recover. The prop struck the ground and then the [airplane] flipped upside down... ."
The pilot stated he inspected the airplane subsequent to the accident and confirmed the parking brake was completely disengaged. The pilot reported both wheels rotated freely.
Inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performed an on-scene investigation. The inspectors reported the airplane had landed to the north and the touchdown point was approximately 300 feet down the runway. There were two parallel brake skid marks beginning near the touchdown point, which continued down the runway for approximately 150 feet. There were 13 propeller-strike markings beginning approximately 100 feet from the touchdown point. The wreckage was located approximately 200 feet from the touchdown point.
The inspectors, along with the owner of the airplane, inspected the main landing gear and the associated wheels, tires, rotors, brake calipers, and brake pads. No anomalies were found with the inspected items; all components were in a serviceable condition. The brake system functioned as designed when the brake pedals were depressed and released.
The pilot's inadvertent activation of the brake system during touchdown and his inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.