# NTSB ANC25LA075: Piper PA-18-150, N8979D, Palmer, AK, July 11, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2025, 17:00 local (Jul 11, 2025, 01:00 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: 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): 200537
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200537/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200537
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA075

## Probable cause

The pilot's excessive braking during the landing roll, 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: [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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7101828), [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: 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 the landing roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the main landing gear wheels encountered an area of rough and uneven terrain, causing a bounce, and the airplane briefly became airborne again. After touching down again, the pilot applied heavy braking, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder and right 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: [N8979D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8979D), registered now, S/N 18-7509053, built 1975 (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 O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7509053
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 3459.6
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2025, 15 hours before
- Departed: LHD, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: LHD, Anchorage, AK
- Airport: NONE, Landing Strip
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 546.1 total, 333.6 in this make and model, 489.1 as pilot in command, 18.6 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observed at: AAQ, 6,845 nm away
- METAR: PAAQ 110053Z 11009G16KT 10SM OVC090 13/05 A2973 RMK AO2 SLP069 T01330050

## 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 20250710008359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250710008359A), Jul 10, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot approached the landing strip with two notches of flaps, and touched down on the spot he picked. He dropped flaps once on the ground and started braking.…

## Other investigations on N8979D (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 ANC14CA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA063), Aug 11, 2014: Piper PA 18-150 (N8979D), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots excessive use of the airplanes brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the…

## 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=200537. 2.9 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=19040745&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA075%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19039195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA075%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.

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