# NTSB ANC04CA083: Piper J5A, N2364, Kotzebue, AK, July 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 22, 2004, 21:07 local (Jul 23, 2004, 05:07 UTC) - Place: Kotzebue, AK - Coordinates: 66.885559, -162.583328 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8856&lon=-162.5833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59716/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent use of the airplane's brakes during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run - brakes(normal) - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The solo private pilot reported that the intended purpose of the flight was to accomplish several touch-and-go landings. As he began his initial takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer slightly to the left of the runway centerline. He said that in an attempt to correct the veer, he applied a slight amount of right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left of the runway centerline. When he applied additional pressure to the right rudder pedal in an attempt to correct the veer, the right main wheel brake "locked up" and the airplane subsequently nosed over. He reported that after the accident he discovered that he had inadvertently been depressing the brake pedal with the heel of his shoe. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2004, about 2107 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper J5A airplane, N2364, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the initial takeoff roll at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required for the local area flight. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 23, the pilot reported that the intended purpose of the flight was to accomplish several touch-and-go landings. The pilot said that as he began his initial takeoff roll on runway 17, the airplane began to veer slightly to the left of the runway centerline. He said that in an attempt to correct the veer, he applied a slight amount of right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left of the runway centerline. When he applied additional pressure to the right rudder pedal in an attempt to correct the veer, the right main wheel brake "locked up" and the airplane subsequently nosed over. He reported that after the accident he discovered that he had inadvertently been depressing the brake pedal with the heel of his shoe. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2364](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2364-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 5-844 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J5A - Registry model: [Piper J5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (registry code 7100702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5-844 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald D. Knoblich - Registered owner: Donald D. Knoblich - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OTZ, Kotzebue, AK - Destination: OTZ, Kotzebue, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 8, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 139 total, 67 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: OTZ ## 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 20040722015019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040722015019A), Jul 22, 2004: Piper J5A, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) As pilot was departing runway 17 in Kotzebue, the aircraft started turning to the left. Pilot applied right rudder to correct the problem, without… ## Other investigations on N2364 (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 ANC11CA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA036), May 27, 2011: Piper J5A (N2364), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. 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.