ANC14LA055

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-18-150 · Palmer, AK · July 19, 2014

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 18, 2014, 20:00 local (Jul 19, 2014, 04:00 UTC)
Place
Palmer, AK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N9783DPiper PA-18-150
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 14, 2015
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration; ANC FSDO
FAA report
20140718015189A
Case key
89704

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent application of excessive brake pressure during landing on a rough surface, which resulted in a nose-over.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotPiper PA-18A 150: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operationPiper PA-18A 150: 3 casesAll aircraft: 238 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper PA-18A 150: 1 caseAll aircraft: 264 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed two low approaches over, and a touch-and-go wheel landing on, the gravel bar before attempting a full-stop landing. During the full-stop landing, the airplane struck a hole, which resulted in the pilot increasing brake pressure and the airplane subsequently nosing over. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On July 18, 2014, at 2000 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18A-150, N9783D, nosed-over and impacted terrain during landing roll on a gravel bar located in a remote location about 30 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Wolf Lake Airport, Palmer, Alaska, at 1800 and was destined to the accident site location. The pilot stated that he performed two low approaches over a gravel bar prior that he attempted to land on. He then performed a touch-and-go wheel landing on the gravel bar before attempting a full-stop landing. During the landing, the airplane struck a hole, which resulted in his increasing brake pressure and nosing-over of the airplane. There were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N9783D
Reported as
Piper PA-18-150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18-6853
Built
1959
Airframe hours
3,678
Engine
Lycoming O-320 SERIES, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 15, 2014
Departed
4AK6 · Palmer, AK
Destination
Palmer, AK

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
26
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 20, 2014
Seat
Front
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
97 total · 30 in this make and model · 37 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
29.65 inHg
Observed at
PAQ, 23 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N9783D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.