# NTSB ANC15CA045: Johnson Gary PA 18 Super CUB KIT, N808GJ, Palmer, AK, June 29, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 29, 2015, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.309722, -148.529998 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3097&lon=-148.5300&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91496/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91496
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA045

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing roll resulting in a nose over.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Gary PA-18 SUPER CUB KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05618ZO), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: [Johnson Gary PA-18 SUPER CUB KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05618ZO), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing at a remote, off airport site in a homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated that he made two passes over the short strip, and while setting up to land on the third pass, he lost sight of his intended touch down spot and landed longer than he had anticipated. After landing he applied the breaks heavily and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The wing struts were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing at a remote, off airport site in an experimental homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated that he made two passes over the short strip, and while setting up to land on the third pass, he lost sight of his intended touch down spot and landed longer than he had anticipated. After landing he applied the brakes heavily and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The wing struts were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N808GJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808GJ), registered now, S/N 204, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHNSON GARY PA 18 SUPER CUB KIT
- Registry model: [Johnson Gary PA-18 SUPER CUB KIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-gary-pa-18-super-cub-kit) (registry code 05618ZO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 204
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 652
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johnson Gary D
- Registered owner: Johnson Gary D
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 20, 2014
- Departed: AK53, Palmer, AK
- Destination: Palmer, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 720 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: PAAQ

## 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 20150629011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150629011419A), Jun 29, 2015: Johnson Gary PA-18 SUPER CUB KIT, Palmer, AK, Minor damage. The pilot landed on a gravel strip on the whiteout glacier and flipped the aircraft onto its nose during the landing rollout.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91496. 468 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431662&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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