# NTSB ANC20CA042: Piper PA18, N184WF, Homer, AK, April 10, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 10, 2020, 00:08 local (08:08 UTC)
- Place: Homer, AK
- Coordinates: 59.645557, -151.476394 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.6456&lon=-151.4764&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 June 29, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101161/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101161
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA042

## Probable cause

The pilot's overapplication of the brakes during landing and the subsequent loss of directional control and 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-18A 150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/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-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Personality/attitude: complacency](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/cases.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021020/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: [Piper PA-18A 150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18A 150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101837), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the wheel- and ski-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll on the dry, paved runway, the airplane began to veer right, and he attempted to correct with left rudder and brake. Subsequently, the tail lifted, the tips of the skis dug into the grooved pavement, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right-wing lift strut. The pilot added that he should have been "more aggressive" with the rudder and applied brakes sooner. He added that he had a long runway to use but got "fooled into complacency." The pilot reported that he felt his use of a flight helmet during the accident sequence was essential to the prevention of injury.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the wheel/ski-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll-out on the dry, paved runway, the airplane began to veer right, and he attempted to correct with left rudder and brake. Subsequently, the tail lifted, the tips of the skis dug into the grooved pavement, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right-wing lift strut. The pilot added that he should have been "more aggressive" with the rudder and braking sooner. He further reported the weather was "nice," he had a long runway to utilize, but got "fooled into complacency". The pilot reported that he felt the usage of his flight helmet during the accident sequence was essential to the prevention of injury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N184WF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N184WF), registered now, S/N 18-6961, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA18 (150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6961
- Year built: 1959
- Airframe hours: 3427.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2019
- Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: HOM, Homer, AK
- Airport: HOM, Homer, runway 22, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,201 total, 750 in this make and model, 1,101 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
- Observed at: PAHO

## 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 20200410005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200410005079A), Apr 10, 2020: Piper PA-18A 150, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. Tail came up as ski tips dug into grooved pavement and stopped forward momentum flipping aircraft onto back.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101161. 13.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 13.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483509&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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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