# NTSB ANC12CA086: Piper PA-18, N37WP, Anchorage, AK, August 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 12, 2012, 17:30 local (Aug 13, 2012, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.284721, -149.803054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2847&lon=-149.8031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 84637 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84637/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84637 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA086 ## Probable cause The passenger's inadvertent application of the brake pedals during landing, which resulted in a noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101802), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a gravel airstrip, and the airplane bounced during touchdown. When it touched down again, the pilot began to apply the brakes, and, as expected, the tail of the airplane began to rise slightly. The rear seat passenger did not realize that this condition was normal and braced his feet against the rudder pedals, which applied increased brake pressure. The airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and wing lift struts. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing on a gravel airstrip, and the airplane bounced during touchdown. When it touched down again, the pilot began to apply the brakes, and as expected, the tail of the airplane began to rise slightly. The rear seat passenger did not realize that this condition was normal, and braced his feet against the rudder pedals, which applied increased brake pressure. The airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and wing lift struts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37WP), registered now, S/N 18-756 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-756 - Airframe hours: 5419 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Russell S Badowski - Registered owner: Russell S Badowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2012 - Departed: PASP, Sheep Mountain, AK - Destination: AA06, Anchorage, AK - Airport: AA06, Sixmile Lake, runway 09, 1,000 × 20 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 220 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PAED, 2 nm away ## 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 20120812018039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120812018039A), Aug 12, 2012: Piper PA-18, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot was landing at 6 mile airstrip, upon landing the aircraft bounce slightly. The tail wheel aircraft was sliding to one side of the runway and controls… ## Other investigations on N37WP (2) 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 ANC23LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA055), Jul 13, 2023: Piper PA-18 (N37WP), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. - [NTSB ERA15CA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA148), Mar 2, 2015: Piper PA 18 (N37WP), Murfreesboro, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground-loop and the left wing dragging the runway. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84637. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375884&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.