SEA03LA088

The student pilot reported that the wind direction was 90 degrees to the runway heading. During the landing roll, the pilot felt that he was going too fast and applied braking action hard enough that the tail felt light. About this time, he felt like something was pushing on the tail when the nose lowered and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The student pilot stated that after he exited the aircraft, he noted that the wind direction had shifted to a tailwind and was gusting. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported at the time of the accident.

On May 24, 2003, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, an Aeronca 7EC, N4712E, registered to and operated by Lenair Corp, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, nosed over during the landing roll at a private airstrip located in Oregon City, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Mulino, Oregon about 15 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the student pilot stated that he circled the airstrip to check the wind direction before landing. The wind sock indicated a 90 degree crosswind to the runway direction. The student pilot set up for a long final approach and touched down about 150 to 200 feet down the runway. The student pilot stated that it looked like he was fast and applied braking action that was "hard enough that the tail felt light." About this time, he felt like something was pushing on the tail when the nose lowered and the airplane subsequently nosed over.

The student pilot noted after he exited the aircraft that the wind direction had changed to a tailwind down the runway and gusting to 15 knots.

The student pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time.