Skywagon 185
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 6000; Flight Crew Type 4500
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
Following a normal approach to landing at a back country airstrip; and during the rollout phase it appears as though the brakes were being applied by the right seat passenger. The wheel landing (which I have done literally 1;000's of times) seemed normal until the point at which the tail should have started to settle. The tail did not settle as expected and at this point the aircraft began a very gradual left turn and with the tail rising. The prop struck the ground. There were no injuries. The aircraft had only two front seat occupants; was full of fuel and any application of brakes at that time is not something that one should do. Having had lots of experience in this aircraft I am quite comfortable that A) Somebody had their feet on the brake(s) & B) I am relatively sure it was not me.
C185 pilot reported a prop strike occurred on landing roll when the passenger presumably applied the brakes at an inopportune moment.