CHI98LA132

The pilot reported that after making a wheel landing. the airplane began to weather vane to the left. He reported applying the right brake at which time the tail began to rise. He stated he did not have enough elevator authority to lower the tail and the propeller contacted the ground. The airplane slid 18 feet on the cowling prior to it nosing over. The landing was made on runway 36 with reported winds, 11 miles away, from 280 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots.

On April 17, 1998, at 1750 eastern daylight time (edt), a Stinson 108- 1, N97876, operated by an Airline Transport Rated pilot nosed over at the end of a landing roll at the Merillat Airport, Tecumseh, Michigan. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated in Croswell, Michigan.

The pilot reported he landed on runway 36 (4,900' x 100') with a gusty wind from the west. He stated he made a wheel landing and "...as the aircraft slowed the right main came down and the aircraft started to weather vane to the west." He reported he applied a little right brake at which time the "...tail came up... ." He reported that he did not have enough elevator authority to lower the tail and the propeller hit the terrain. The pilot reported the airplane slid on the lower cowling for about 18' prior to the airplane nosing over.

Wind conditions reported at Adrian, Michigan, 11 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1753 edt, were from 280 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots.