NTSB Factual Report

On June 25, 2018, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Stearman B75N1, N52584, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at Davidson County Airport (EXX), Lexington, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot, during the second wheel landing of the flight, shortly after the tailwheel touched down on runway 24, the airplane drifted to the right. He attempted to stop the drift, and as the airplane approached the right edge of the runway, he applied the wheel brakes. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over on the runway. The right wing, rudder, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated he "got on [the] brakes a little harder than I should have" as the airplane drifted toward the grass.

According to a witness who was at the airport in the ramp area, he heard "a faint sound of screeching tires." As he looked up, he observed the airplane "pitch nose forward" and nose over on the runway.

During postaccident examinations by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, while the airplane was at the accident site inverted, the main landing gear wheels and tailwheels rotated freely when moved by hand. The tailwheel was found locked, which was consistent with its control lever in the cockpit. The tailwheel locking mechanism functioned normally when the lever was moved to the unlock and lock positions. The push-pull control linkages were examined from the rudder pedals to the tailwheel and rudder surface, and no anomalies were noted.

According to FAA airman records, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land. He also held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, helicopter, and instrument helicopter. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued in March 2018. He reported that he had accumulated 30,000 total flight hours, and 350 total flight hours in the accident make and model airplane.

According to FAA airworthiness records, the two-seat, single-engine, bi-wing, tailwheel airplane was manufactured in 1941. It was equipped with a Lycoming R-680-13 engine. The most recent annual inspection was completed in October 2017.

The weather conditions reported at 1155 at EXX, included calm wind, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 29°C, and dew point 21°C.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s overapplication of the wheel brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.