# NTSB ANC25LA073: Piper PA-18-135, N27293, Palmer, AK, July 11, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2025, 16:00 local (Jul 11, 2025, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.41, -148.56 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4100&lon=-148.5600&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 January 9, 2026 - 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): 200520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA073 ## Probable cause The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the landing after determining the landing area was unsuitable. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101820), [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-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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-18-135, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at a remote off airport site, he added power twice to clear areas of rough terrain just before touchdown. When the airplane eventually touched down, it bounced and continued further down the site. During the second touchdown, as the landing roll continued, the pilot realized that there was not ample room to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the site, so he applied heavy braking action. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27293](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27293), registered now, S/N 18-3367, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2b) (registry code 42101, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3367 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 4084 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marten Martensen Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 2025, 23 hours before - Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK - Destination: LHD, Anchorage, AK - Airport: NONE, River Bed - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 362 total, 323 in this make and model, 238 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.74 inHg - Observed at: AAQ, 16 nm away - METAR: PAAQ 102353Z 13010G18KT 10SM SCT085 OVC100 14/05 A2974 RMK AO2 SLP073 T01440050 10150 20128 58013 ## 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 20250710008349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250710008349A), Jul 10, 2025: Piper PA-18-135, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot performed a low flyby of the landing area at approx. 300 feet AGL to survey the landing area. On the flyby he determined that he could land there. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N27293 (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 ANC14CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA043), Jun 19, 2014: Piper PA 18-135 (N27293), Beluga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control when encountering a downdraft during the initial climb after takeoff, resulting in a collision with brush and terrain. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200520. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19040634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA073%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19038336&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA073%20Photos-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.