# NTSB ANC13LA089: Howard M. Shepherd Supercub, N13NV, Hoonah, AK, July 23, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2013, 19:48 local (Jul 23, 2013, 03:48 UTC) - Place: Hoonah, AK - Coordinates: 57.926109, -135.163055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.9261&lon=-135.1631&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Juneau FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87917/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87917 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable off-airport landing site and his subsequent landing at too high of an airspeed, which resulted in his excessive use of brakes during the landing roll and resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/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: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05629OG), [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: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05629OG), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane on a soft, remote tidal beach. Friends familiar with the circumstances of the accident said that, while landing at the beach, the pilot inadvertently touched down faster than anticipated. During the landing roll on the soft beach, the pilot applied heavy braking, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after recovery reported no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2013, about 1948 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire, tailwheel-equipped, Howard M. Shepherd Supercub experimental amateur-built airplane, N13NV, nosed over during landing on a remote tidal beach at Freshwater Bay, Chichagoff Island, about 15 miles east-southeast of Hoonah, Alaska. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 with no flight plan filed. The flight departed Juneau International Airport, Juneau, Alaska, at an undetermined time. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations inspector assigned to the Juneau Flight Standards District Office examined the airplane after its recovery and reported that it sustained substantial damage to the rudder, left wing spar, and both wing lift struts. In addition, the FAA inspector reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector also reported that friends of the pilot that were familiar with the circumstances of the accident said that while the accident pilot was landing at the remote beach site, he inadvertently touched down slightly faster than anticipated on the soft beach. During the landing roll the pilot applied heavy braking, and the airplane subsequently nosed over on the soft beach terrain. The pilot did not respond to numerous telephone and mail requests, and no NTSB Form 6120 was received. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13NV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13NV), registered now, S/N AK18103, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOWARD M. SHEPHERD SUPERCUB - Registry model: [Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB](https://openairdocs.org/model/shepherd-howard-m-supercub) (registry code 05629OG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2a) (registry code 42285, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AK18103 - Year built: 2011 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C2A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: JNU, JUNEAU, AK - Destination: Hoonah, AK - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 700 total, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: JNU, 50 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 20130722018169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722018169A), Jul 22, 2013: Shepherd Howard M SUPERCUB, Freshwater Bay, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot accepted a light (4-5 mph) tail-wind due to the visibility being obscured by the sun if landing into the wind. The pilot stated that upon landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87917. 380 KB in all. - Record of Conversations with FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Request for NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Request%20for%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.