# NTSB ANC04LA073: Piper PA-18-160, N8918Y, Chugiak, AK, July 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2004, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.400001, -149.512222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4000&lon=-149.5122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59559 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59559/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive use of the airplane's brakes during the landing 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, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that he had been practicing touch-and-go landings on a gravel covered, 2,200 feet long runway. He said that after completing four successful touch-and-go landings, he elected to do a full stop landing. During the accident landing the roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left, and the pilot applied the brakes in an attempt to realign the airplane with the runway. The pilot reported that he inadvertently applied too much brake pressure as the airplane neared the end of the landing roll, and the airplane nosed over. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2004, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during the landing roll at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0930. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 5, the pilot reported that he had been practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 1R, which is gravel covered, and is 2,200 feet long by 50 feet wide. He said that after completing four successful touch-and-go landings, he elected to do a full stop landing. During the accident landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left, and the pilot applied the brakes in an attempt to realign the airplane with the runway. The pilot reported that he inadvertently applied too much brake pressure as the airplane neared the end of the landing roll, and the airplane nosed over. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8918Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8918Y), registered now, S/N 18-7409036, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-160 - 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: 18-7409036 - Airframe hours: 1922 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leonard D. Ferucci - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2004, 35 hours before - Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK - Destination: BCV, Chugiak, AK - Airport: BCV, Birchwood, runway 01, 2,200 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 45 total, 40 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: PABV ## 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 20040705012219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040705012219A), Jul 5, 2004: Piper PA18150, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was practicing landings on gravel runway 1R at Birchwood, AK (bcv). Wind was left crosswind, estimated 300 degrees @ 8 knots. After 4 touch… ## Other investigations on N8918Y (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 ANC00LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA011), Oct 19, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N8918Y), Seward, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft. 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.