FTW99LA068

The pilot stated that he landed fast and the tail-wheel equipped airplane started to float. When the pilot applied brake pressure the airplane started to skid. The pilot then released the brake pressure; however, he thought he was getting too close to the end of the 2,400 foot long grass strip, so he applied 'heavy' braking. Subsequently, the vintage airplane nosed over.

On January 21, 1999, approximately 1630 central standard time, a Waco YMF-5 tail-wheel equipped airplane, N19Y, was substantially damaged when it nosed over on landing at a private grass air strip near Edmond, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight which originated at 1600 from the Guthrie Municipal Airport near Guthrie, Oklahoma.

During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was repositioning the vintage biplane to the owner's private grass air strip. The pilot made two prior approaches to the landing strip to "get a feel for the winds and how to approach over some power lines." On the third attempt the pilot touched down "fast and started to float." The pilot started to "get on the brakes, and the airplane started to skid." The pilot then released the brake pressure; however, he thought that he was getting too close to the end of the 2,400 foot long runway so he applied "heavy braking" and subsequently nosed over.

The 933 hour pilot added that at the time of the accident, he had accumulated 47 hours in the accident airplane.

The nearest weather observation facility is the Will Rogers World Airport near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which is 19 miles south of Edmond, Oklahoma. At 1656 the wind was reported to be from 190 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot stated that the condition of the grass air strip at the time of the accident was dry.

Examination of the airplane by a FAA inspector revealed that the empenage, engine mounts, and propeller were bent and the top wing spar was broken. The FAA inspector stated that he could find no anomalies with the vintage airplane. The pilot, who is also a certified mechanic, stated that there were no mechanical problems with the brakes.