# NTSB ANC00LA131: Piper PA-18, N6760B, Big Lake, AK, September 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.460285, -150.08908 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4603&lon=-150.0891&mi=10 - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50359/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA131 ## Probable cause The pilot's application of excessive braking. A factor in the accident was the installation of boosted (oversize) type master brake cylinders. ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel bar. The pilot reported that his airplane is equipped with 30-inch tundra tires. He recently installed extended landing gear to add distance between the bottom arc of the propeller and the ground. He also added new brake cylinders equipped with a 'booster' cylinder. During the landing roll, the pilot said he applied the brakes too hard, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the rudder, and the right wing lift strut. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N6760B, sustained substantial damage during landing on a gravel bar, about 20 miles west of Big Lake, Alaska, at latitude 61 degrees, 35.412 minutes north, and longitude 150 degrees, 23.999 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, at 1400. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 17, 2000, the pilot reported that his airplane is equipped with 30-inch tundra tires. He recently installed extended landing gear to add distance between the bottom arc of the propeller and the ground. He also added new brake cylinders equipped with a "booster" cylinder. During the landing roll, the pilot said he applied the brakes too hard, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the rudder, and the right wing lift strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6760B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6760B), registered now, S/N 18-5035, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a) (registry code 7101804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5035 - Airframe hours: 4898 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry Vandegrift - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 2000, 53 hours before - Departed: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 1,960 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000915041899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000915041899A), Sep 15, 2000: Piper PA18A, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed on a gravel sand bar near yentna and the big susitna rivr. Upon landing, the aircraft nosed over causing damage to the propeller, nose… ## Other investigations on N6760B (4) 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 ANC07CA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA042), Jun 1, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N6760B), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay in aborting the landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. - [NTSB ANC96LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA129), Aug 16, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N6760B), Slana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. A factor associated with the accident was the rough and uneven terrain. - [NTSB ANC81DAG65](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG65), Aug 9, 1981: Piper PA-18A (N6760B), Canyon Creek, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN74DTE65](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DTE65), Apr 6, 1974: Piper PA-18A (N6760B), Sheridan Lk, CO, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.