# NTSB ANC11CA076: Piper PA-18-135, N1258C, Coldfoot, AK, August 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 12, 2011, 16:45 local (Aug 13, 2011, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Coldfoot, AK - Coordinates: 67.588333, -148.755554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.5883&lon=-148.7556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81492/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81492 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent application of the right brake pedal during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a 4- to 5-knot quartering tailwind at a remote off-airport site. The pilot said that during the landing roll the airplane veered slightly to the left and he applied right rudder to correct the veer. As he depressed the right rudder pedal, the airplane abruptly nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot suspects that he inadvertently depressed the right brake pedal when he applied right rudder and noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing at a remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, which required a correction for a 4 to 5 knot quartering tailwind. The pilot said during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left, and he applied right rudder to correct the veer. As he depressed the right rudder pedal, the airplane abruptly nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that he suspects he inadvertently depressed the right brake pedal when he applied right rudder, and noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1258C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1258C), registered now, S/N 18-2497, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2497 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Scenic Mountain Air, Inc. - Registered owner: James R. Craig - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Coldfoot, AK - Destination: Coldfoot, AK - Airport: runway 06, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 8,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 7,800 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 131 °F ## 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 20110812018839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110812018839A), Aug 12, 2011: Piper PA-18-135, Chandalar Lake, AK, Minor damage. Pilot reports: made what seemed to be an uneventful landing. As the plane was rolling out it started to the left. I applied right rudder and the next thing I… ## Other investigations on N1258C (3) 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 GAA17CA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA275), May 11, 2017: Piper PA18 (N1258C), Seward, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's incorrect brake application during a high-speed taxi with a tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over. - [NTSB GAA16CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA264), May 22, 2016: Piper PA18 (N1258C), Seward, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain proper airspeed and descent rate, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing… - [NTSB DEN70D0003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70D0003), Mar 18, 1969: Piper PA-18 (N1258C), Flagler, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81492. 510 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.