# Accident 20231104018449A: Piper PA-18-150, Wasilla, AK, November 4, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 4, 2023, 15:00 local time
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Airport: Wasilla
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5720° N, 149.5395° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5720&lon=-149.5395&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3994Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3994Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,395 total, 89 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC24LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA002) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231104018449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FOR TAIL WHEEL ENDORSEMENT PRACTICING CONVENTIONAL WHEEL LANDINGS IN PA-18 AIRCRAFT WITH FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SITTING IN REAR SEAT AND STUDENT PILOT SITTING IN FRONT SEAT. INITIAL PLAN TO CONDUCT TRAINING FLIGHTS AT GOOSE BAY AIRPORT DUE TO WIDER RUNWAY AND LARGER MARGIN FOR ERROR, BUT FOG LAYER PREVENTED SAFE OPERATIONS IN THE PLANNED FLIGHT AREA. WITH INCREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT PALMER AIRPORT, DECISION MADE BY FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO PRACTICE LANDINGS AT A NARROWER NEARBY GRAVEL STRIP AT WASILLA AIRPORT. DURING THIRD AND FINAL PRACTICE LANDING OF THE DAY, STUDENT PILOT INSTRUCTED TO TOUCH DOWN AS CLOSE TO THE TOUCHDOWN MARKER AS POSSIBLE FOR INCREASED ACCURACY. UPON TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY CENTERLINE, AIRCRAFT BEGAN VEERING RIGHT TOWARD RUNWAY EDGE. WITH RESTRICTED FORWARD VISIBILITY FROM REAR SEAT, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED HAVING DIFFICULTY CLEARLY MONITORING THE LANDING LOOKING OVER STUDENT PILOT'S SHOULDERS AND SLOW REACTION TO CORRECT DEVIATION. AS THE AIRPLANE GOT CLOSER TO THE RUNWAY EDGE, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR PULLED BACK ON CONTROL STICK AND BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE TO KEEP AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY SURFACE WITHOUT APPLYING AGGRESSIVE RUDDER CORRECTION AND PREVENT A GROUND LOOP. SLOW REACTION TIME DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AND INCREASED BRAKE PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CAUSED AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER AND INVERT AT RUNWAY EDGE. DAMAGE TO TAIL AND RUDDER, UPPER FUSELAGE NEAR TAIL, COCKPIT V-BRACE, WING STRUT, ENGINE FIREWALL, AND PROPELLER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC24LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA002), Nov 4, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N3994Z), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor pilot’s delayed action and over application of brakes which resulted in a nose-over.

## Other reports on N3994Z (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20250603014129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250603014129A), Jun 3, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N3994Z), Willow, AK, Substantial damage. “On the date in question, I was providing a commercial pilot candidate with some tail wheel instruction in a company [privacy data omitted] PA-18. The first…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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