NTSB Factual Report

On January 18, 2002, at 1400 central standard time, a Luscombe 8A, N71677, nosed down while landing on runway 20 (4,101 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at the Wahoo Municipal Airport, Wahoo, Nebraska. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot (student) were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the firewall. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Lincoln, Nebraska, at 1215.

The purpose of the flight was for the student to receive instruction for a tailwheel endorsement. The student reported that they spent about one hour practicing takeoff and landings on the grass runway with a 30 degree crosswind. The CFI reported that the student was progressing very well, so they decided to switch to the concrete runway 20. The CFI reported the second landing on runway 20, with a 60 degrees crosswind, was normal and there was no tendency to ground loop. The CFI reported that as the airplane slowed during the landing roll, it nosed down despite "...elevator efforts to stop it." He reported that either the student had over braked or brake system was not functioning properly.

The student reported that "On second landing, during rollout, either I pushed too much brake or we both pushed the same brake and the aircraft nosed over."

The student pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the local winds were from 140 degrees at 10 knots.

Inspection of the airplane was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Lincoln, Nebraska, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported the engine mounts were pushed back into the firewall. He also reported that there was no mechanical failure/malfunction of the brake system which would have resulted in the excessive braking.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student, who was a private pilot, used excessive braking during the landing roll.