# NTSB ANC89LA152: Piper PA-18, N150LT, Talkeetna, AK, August 31, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1989, 17:45 local (Aug 31, 1989, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.450546, -149.789184 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4505&lon=-149.7892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5249
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89LA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5249/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA152

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PLT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE ROUGH TERRAIN, RAIN, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, TAILWIND, GUSTS, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AS THE PLT WAS LNDG AT AN AIRSTRIP ON A MOUNTAIN TOP, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. HE BLAMED THE NOSE-OVER ON A COMBINATION OF ROUGH LANDING AREA, GUSTY TAILWIND, RAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD & HEAVY APPLICATION OF BRAKES. THE 500' AIRSTRIP WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 4000' AGL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N150LT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N150LT-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 18-7718 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7718
- Airframe hours: 2342
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Talkeetna Air, doing business as Talkeetna Air Taxi
- Registered owner: David J. Lee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1989, 77 hours before
- Departed: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Turnover Hill, runway 4, 500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890830033069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890830033069A), Aug 30, 1989: Piper PA18A150, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Nosed over landing downwind on a short rough strip and vision impaired by rain on windshield.

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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