# NTSB ANC03CA081: Cessna 140, N72860, Anchorage, AK, July 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2003, 10:32 local (18:32 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.186943, -149.96527 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1869&lon=-149.9653&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03CA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57524/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane and excessive application of the airplane brakes during the landing roll that resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on an asphalt-surfaced runway that was 4,000-feet-long and 100-feet-wide. The pilot reported she landed slightly long, and during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. She said she used the rudder and the brakes in an attempt to regain directional control, but the airplane suddenly nosed over. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, in the section, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented?), the pilot wrote: "Ensure tailwheel is on the ground when brakes are applied, or do not apply brakes at all." ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2003, at 1032 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 140 airplane, N72860, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1010. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 21, the pilot reported she landed on runway 24 at Merrill Field. The pilot said she landed slightly long, and during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. She said she used the rudder and the brakes in an attempt to regain directional control, but the airplane suddenly nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, fuselage, wings, vertical stabilizer and rudder. Runway 24 is an asphalt-surfaced runway that is 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, in the section, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented?), the pilot wrote: "Ensure tailwheel is on the ground when brakes are applied, or do not apply brakes at all." At 0953, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Merrill Field was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 4,000 feet scattered, 7,000 feet overcast; temperature, 63 degrees F; dew point, 55 degrees F; altimeter, 29.92 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72860](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72860), registered now, S/N 10051, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10051 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Linne S. Weinberger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAMR, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: PAMR, Merrill Field, runway 24 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 423 total, 18 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PAMR ## 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 20030721037309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030721037309A), Jul 21, 2003: Cessna 140, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 21, 2003 a Cessna 140 registered to and piloted by linne s. weinberger was involved in an aircraft accident at Merrill field Alaska. According to… 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.