# NTSB ANC03CA110: Piper PA-18-180, N8597D, Eagle, AK, September 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 7, 2003, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Eagle, AK - Coordinates: 64.916664, -142.449996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.9167&lon=-142.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Fairbank FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, and his excessive use of the airplane's brakes during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. A factor associated with the accident was rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The solo airline transport pilot was landing on a mountain ridgeline in a tailwheel, tundra tire-equipped airplane. The airplane touched down on the rough and uneven terrain without difficulty, but during the landing roll, the pilot inadvertently applied excessive braking action. The airplane subsequently nosed over and sustained structural damage to the rudder and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2003, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N8597D, received substantial damage when it nosed over while landing at an off-airport site in mountainous terrain. The accident site was approximately 30 miles west of Eagle, Alaska. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The flight departed a remote, off-airport site about 1100, and the destination was the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 8, the pilot of the accident airplane related that he was landing on a mountain ridgeline. He indicated that the airplane touched down on the rough and uneven terrain without difficulty, but during the landing roll, he inadvertently applied excessive braking action. The airplane subsequently nosed over, and sustained structural damage to the rudder and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8597D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8597D), registered now, S/N 18-6248, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6248 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles R. Rhodes - Registered owner: RWR Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Eagle, AK - Destination: Eagle, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 7,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 135 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast ## 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 20030907035159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030907035159A), Sep 7, 2003: Piper PA18150, Tok, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] landed on ridge top, front seat only occupied, runway rough, applied brakes, allowed tail to rise too high angle, aircraft nosed… ## Other investigations on N8597D (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 ANC06CA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA115), Aug 16, 2006: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. A factor contributing to the accident was a crosswind. - [NTSB ANC04LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA096), Aug 26, 2004: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Paxson, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a collision with a rock and subsequent main landing gear collapse during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the… - [NTSB ANC94LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA129), Sep 2, 1994: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Tok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE WORN CAM SHAFT LOBE AND WORN VALVE LIFTER. - [NTSB ANC86LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA072), Jun 12, 1986: Piper PA-18 (N8597D), Fairbanks, AK, 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.