# NTSB ANC09LA002: Piper PA-18, N788, Anchorage, AK, October 2, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2008, 11:53 local (19:53 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.581111, -150.466949 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5811&lon=-150.4669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 69247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA002 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial-certificated pilot, seated in the rear seat of a tundra-tire-equipped airplane, was landing on a gravel bar. During the landing roll, the pilot applied excessive braking and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2008, about 1535 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N788, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing on a remote gravel bar, about 28 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, seated in the rear seat, and the airline transport pilot seated in the front seat, both certificated flight instructors, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1300. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on October 6, 2008, an investigator with the Department of Interior reported that the airplane was being operated for pilot proficiency, and to scout landing areas for an off-airport landing clinic. Each of the two pilots aboard planned to fly from the rear seat of the airplane during the clinic, and the rear seat pilot had been designated as the pilot-in-command for the accident flight. The rear seat pilot selected a gravel bar along the Susitna River that was about 2,000 feet long. During the landing roll, he applied excessive braking, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received structural damage to the right wing lift strut and the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N788 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8259 - Airframe hours: 8853 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: U.S. Dept. of Interior - Registered owner: U.S. Dept. of Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 24, 2008, 36 hours before - Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 2, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 13,645 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.28 inHg ## 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 20081002848909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081002848909A), Oct 2, 2008: Piper PA18150, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was doing off airport (I.e. landing on gravel bars) pilot profiency training for an upcoming off airport clinic/seminar. The pilot stated he… 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.