# NTSB ANC23LA068: Piper PA-18-150, N416RK, McCarthy, AK, August 30, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2023, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: McCarthy, AK
- Coordinates: 61.456661, -142.47074
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4567&lon=-142.4707&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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192983/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192983
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA068

## Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive application of brakes during landing that 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)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/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

The pilot reported that during landing, he applied too much brake pressure and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N416RK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N416RK), registered now, S/N 18-8434, built 1966 (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: 18-8434
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 30.6
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2023, 20 hours before
- Departed: MXY, McCarthy, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE, Peavine, runway none, 1,500 × 100 ft, gravel
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 27, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,158 total, 38 in this make and model, 1,158 as pilot in command, 22.5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: AGK, 87 nm away
- METAR: PAGK 302153Z AUTO 16010G20KT 10SM BKN100 13/07 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP092 T01280067 TSNO

## 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 20230830016839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230830016839A), Aug 30, 2023: Piper PA-18-150, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. On 8/30/2023 at approximately 1400AKDT, the pilot of landed the PA-18-150 at a remote landing area known as peavine. After touchdown the pilot stated he…

## Other investigations on N416RK (1)

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 ANC20CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA096), Sep 12, 2020: Piper PA18 (N416RK), Chitina, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192983. 10.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16175903&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA068%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16175758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA068%20Photo-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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.