N1258CPiper PA-18-135 · 1953

The flight instructor reported that he was providing tailwheel instruction for the pilot, who was in the front seat of the tandem seat airplane, and who did not possess a tailwheel endorsement. Following multiple landings earlier in the flight, the pilot was practicing a high-speed taxi in tailwind conditions. Upon reaching about 20 mph ground speed, "directional control began to be lost." Subsequently, the flight instructor applied brakes and the airplane nosed over.

The vertical stabilizer and left-wing lift strut sustained substantial damage.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

An automated weather observation station, at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, recorded wind 170° at 9 knots. The flight instructor reported they were taxiing north on runway 31.

The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, while on short final, the headwind dissipated and the airplane started to slow and sink. He instructed the pilot receiving instruction in the front seat to add power, but she did not complete the action immediately. After realizing the action was not complete the flight instructor added full power, but the airplane continued to descend at an accelerated rate and touched down hard upon landing. Subsequently, the main landing gear collapsed and the fuselage was substantially damaged.

The flight instructor did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot was landing at a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, which required a correction for a 4 to 5 knot quartering tailwind. The pilot said during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left, and he applied right rudder to correct the veer. As he depressed the right rudder pedal, the airplane abruptly nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that he suspects he inadvertently depressed the right brake pedal when he applied right rudder, and noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.