# NTSB ANC24LA033: Piper PA-18-150, N4387Z, Dry Creek, AK, May 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 14, 2024, 15:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Dry Creek, AK · Remote airstrip - Coordinates: 63.470333, -144.85266 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.4703&lon=-144.8527&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: 2 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): 194287 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194287/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194287 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s excessive use of brakes during landing, and the pilot providing instruction’s inadequate supervision, resulting 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: [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: [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide initial off-airport training to a pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot receiving instruction was seated in the front seat, and the pilot providing instruction was seated in the back seat. After completing a series of stop-and-go landings at various off-airport sites, the pair landed at a 600 ft gravel-covered site. After a brief stay at the site, the pair elected to continue practicing stop-and-go landings. During the second landing at the site, as the pilot receiving instruction was manipulating the controls, the airplane bounced slightly at touchdown, then it touched down again in a three-point landing. As the landing rollout continued, about half-way down the site, the airplane decelerated quickly, and the tail began to rise. In an attempt to lower the tail of the airplane, the pilot providing instruction applied full aft elevator, and tried to instruct the pilot receiving instruction to correct the excessive braking action. The airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the rudder, and wing struts. The operator stated that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4387Z (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8709 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 6202.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Public use - Operator: State Of Alaska - Registered owner: State Of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2024, 25.2 hours before - Destination: PVT, Delta Junction, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,770 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 3,670 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 446 total, 367 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: PABI, 39 nm away - METAR: PABI 142353Z 23008KT 10SM FEW022 FEW046 BKN060 BKN130 08/02 A2991 RMK AO2 RAE45 SLP143 SHRA DSNT NE/S P0000 60000 T00830022 10094 20050 56007 ## 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 20240514009119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240514009119A), May 14, 2024: Piper PA-18-150, Dry Creek, AK, Substantial damage. The operator reported that the objective was to start PA-18 “off-airport training.” the accident airstrip altitude was about 2,500 feet and was about 600 feet… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194287. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 717 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17208008&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA033%206120_1%20NTSB%20Report%20N87Z_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17206288&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA033%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.