# NTSB ANC22LA077: Piper PA-18-150, N2340S, Anchorage, AK, September 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 16, 2022, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.510553, -150.93687 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5106&lon=-150.9369&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105967
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105967/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105967
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA077

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over and substantial damage to the rudder and wings.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional 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)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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

According to the pilot, during the landing roll the airplane pitched nose forward and came to rest inverted on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and stated that the accident may have been the result of inadvertent application of the heel brakes.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2340S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2340S), registered now, S/N 18-7909134, built 1979 (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: 18-7909134
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 2426
- Engines: Continental O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Acme Cub
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2022
- Departed: PALH, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: None, Mountain
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,850 total, 16 in this make and model, 2,836 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 640 total, 80 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: PANC, 33 nm away
- METAR: PANC 161953Z 06004KT 10SM FEW002 BKN070 OVC120 08/07 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP143 T00830072

## 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 20220916016239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220916016239A), Sep 16, 2022: Piper PA-18-150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was at the end (approximately 15.9 hours) of an off airport familiarization course that was scheduled for 17 hours. The pilot and instructor were…

## Other investigations on N2340S (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 ANC82FAG32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82FAG32), Jun 13, 1982: Piper PA-18-150 (N2340S), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal
- [NTSB ANC80DAG98](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG98), Aug 24, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N2340S), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105967. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14495445&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA077%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - operator (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14516321&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA077%20Operator%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14491655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA077-Rel.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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