# NTSB ANC15CA028: Piper PA 18-150, N83330, Seward, AK, May 17, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 17, 2015, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Seward, AK
- Coordinates: 60.129722, -149.416107
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1297&lon=-149.4161&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91233/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91233
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA028

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive braking during landing, 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)
- [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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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-flare/touchdown: 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 private pilot was practicing short field takeoff and landings on a grassy area next to a paved runway. On the fourth landing he stated that he hit the brakes too hard, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage and wing struts. The pilot stated that the were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot was practicing short field takeoff and landings on a grassy area next to a paved runway. On the fourth landing he stated that he hit the brakes too hard, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage and wing struts. The pilot stated that the were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83330](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83330), registered now, S/N 18-7609080, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150)
- 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: 18-7609080
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 1359
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2015, 30 hours before
- Departed: SWD, Seward, AK
- Destination: SWD, Seward, AK
- Airport: SWD, Seward
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 310 total, 80 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: PAWD

## 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 20150517007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150517007409A), May 17, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. On landing, increasing friction of grass and increasing tailwind combined to flip aircraft over while attempting a short field landing. Substantial damage to…

## Other investigations on N83330 (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 ANC23LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA040), Jun 4, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N83330), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive braking during landing on a sand bar, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB SEA89LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA165), Aug 31, 1989: Piper PA-18-150 (N83330), Burns Junction, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN PROPER AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91233. 916 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 916 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432445&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%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.

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