# NTSB ANC14CA031: Piper PA 18-150, N8929L, Cordova, AK, May 28, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2014, 13:09 local (21:09 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.542499, -145.752502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5425&lon=-145.7525&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 September 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Juneau FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89320 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89320/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89320 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA031 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate remedial action during landing on soft terrain, 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-18-150, 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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: [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 said that he made low passes over the flat, tundra site to assess its suitability for landing. He said that, on the second pass, he touched the airplane's wheels down to verify that the surface was firm and then returned for landing. He said that, both visually and during the test-touch, the surface appeared to be "100 percent hard-surface tundra," and the vegetation appeared dry; however, during the end of the landing roll, when the airplane was traveling about 10 mph, the wheels sank into unexpectedly "mushy" ground, and the airplane slowly nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The rudder, strut, and wing rib sustained damage. The airplane was equipped with tundra tires. Photographs of the airplane at the accident site showed it inverted in a broad area of flat, grassy tundra, consistent with the pilot's description. ## Factual narrative The pilot said that he made low passes over the flat, tundra site to assess its suitability for landing. He said that, on the second pass, he touched the airplane's wheels down to verify that the surface was firm and then returned for landing. He said that both visually and during the test-touch, the surface appeared to be "100 percent hard-surface tundra," and the vegetation appeared dry; however, during the end of the landing roll, when the airplane was traveling about 10 mph, the wheels sank into unexpectedly "mushy" ground, and the airplane slowly nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. Damage to the airplane included rudder, strut, and wing rib damage. The airplane was equipped with tundra tires. Photographs of the airplane at the accident site showed it inverted in a broad area of flat, grassy tundra, consistent with the pilot's description. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8929L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8929L), registered now, S/N 18-7409127, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7409127 - Year built: 1974 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CKU, CORDOVA, AK - Destination: CDV, CORDOVA, AK - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: CDV ## 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 20140528009769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140528009769A), May 28, 2014: Piper PA-18-150, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot departed Cordova city strip around noon and was flying with his 11-year-OLD son to go look for shed antlers. He made three low passes over the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89320. 475 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement - Interview Summary (item 1, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photos - Wreckage at Accident Site (Courtesy of Recovery Personnel) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20-%20Wreckage%20at%20Accident%20Site%20(Courtesy%20of%20Recovery%20Personnel)-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.