# NTSB ANC12LA064: Piper PA-18-180, N329DP, Chugiak, AK, July 4, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2012, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Chugiak, AK
- Coordinates: 61.394443, -149.842773
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3944&lon=-149.8428&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, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84205
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84205/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84205
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA064

## Probable cause

The pilot/airplane owner’s loss of directional control after landing, and the instructor pilot's lack of adequate supervision of the training flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/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-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [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-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was receiving instruction in his newly acquired airplane, which was equipped with 35-inch tundra tailwheel tires. He had not flown an airplane with large wheels previously, so he hired a local flight instructor who had been recommended to him. Neither pilot had previously flown the accident airplane. After initial touchdown of the main landing gear, the pilot pulled the stick aft to bring the tailwheel down. When the tailwheel touched down, the airplane made a hard right turn, which the pilot attempted to correct with left rudder. However, the right turn worsened as the airplane approached the edge of the runway, so he applied heavy braking. The airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On July 4, 2012, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N329DP, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at the Goose Bay Airport, about 9 miles northwest of Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the airplane owner, seated in the front seat, sustained minor injuries, and the airline transport rated certificated flight instructor (CFI), seated in the rear seat was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Birchwood Airport about 1245. At the time of the accident, the pilot/airplane owner had a current biennial flight review, along with a tailwheel endorsement. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) dated July 8, the pilot/airplane owner reported that he had recently acquired the highly modified airplane. The airplane was equipped with 35-inch Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires among other performance enhancing modifications. He said that he had not flown an airplane equipped with large tundra tires, so he hired a local CFI that was recommended by local pilots. Neither pilot had flown the accident airplane. He said that before departing from the Birchwood Airport, they taxied the airplane around to get a feel of its handling characteristics, and the pilot said he noticed that he had to use the brakes in addition to the rudder to get the airplane to turn. After an uneventful takeoff from the Birchwood Airport, they flew a series of flight maneuvers before proceeding to the Goose Bay Airport for their first landing on the 3,000 foot long gravel runway. The pilot/airplane owner said he wanted to do full stop, three-point landings, and the CFI suggested he use a 50 mph approach speed, with 10 degrees of flaps for the first landing. After touching down on the main landing gear, the pilot/airplane owner pulled the stick aft to bring the tailwheel down. He said when the tailwheel touched down the airplane made a hard right turn, which he attempted to correct with left rudder. The right turn got worse as the airplane approached the edge of the runway, so he applied heavy braking, and the airplane nosed over. In a written statement dated July 13, the CFI reported that the initial touchdown on the main landing gear was fine, but when the tailwheel touched down the airplane made an immediate right turn. He said he was unable to stop the turn with left rudder, and as they approached the edge of the runway the pilot/airplane owner applied heavy braking, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies. The Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot,contained an optional area for recommendations as to how the accident could have been prevented. The pilot/airplane owner wrote, in part: “I firmly believe that I should have gotten a more seasoned instructor. I expect an instructor to take control, or at least verbalize instructions loudly and clearly in a situation like ours.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N329DP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N329DP), registered now, S/N 18-7609149 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4p) (registry code 42278, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7609149
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eric Bates
- Registered owner: High Ground Scouting Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PABV, Chugiak, AK
- Destination: Z40, Birchwood, AK
- Airport: Z40, Goose Bay, runway 26, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 26, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 8,200 total, 5,021 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 9, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,373 total, 42 in this make and model, 2,241 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,200 ft
- Temperature: 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 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 20120704015179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120704015179A), Jul 4, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Description: aircraft crash at Goose Bay Airport, alaskastatement of events: the pilot hired the instructor pilot for instruction because of limited recency of…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84205. 5.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Pilot)-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 2, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(CFI)-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.

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