# NTSB ATL04CA102: Piper PA-18, N271T, Cedartown, GA, April 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 28, 2004, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Cedartown, GA - Coordinates: 34.018611, -85.146385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0186&lon=-85.1464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59278 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59278/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of brakes during landing roll which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after landing on the grass strip alongside runway 28, he applied the brakes. The tail of the airplane immediately lifted up and the pilot slid forward in the seat. While sliding forward, the pilot inadvertently put more pressure on the brakes as well as forward pressure on the elevator. The pilot reported he applied heavy braking and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed spinner damage, right wing strut bent, rudder bent and a nick in the propeller and damage to the wind screen. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2004 at 1800 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N271T, registered to and operated by Free Spirit Aviation, nosed over after landing at Cornelius-Moore Field, Cedartown, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Fulton County Airport - Brown Field, Atlanta, Georgia, at 1730, on April 28, 2004. According to the pilot, after landing on the grass strip alongside runway 28, he applied the brakes. The tail of the airplane immediately lifted up and the pilot slid forward in the seat. While sliding forward, the pilot said he inadvertently put more pressure on the brakes as well as forward pressure on the elevator. The pilot reported he applied heavy braking and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller spinner was damaged, the right wing strut was bent , the rudder assembly was bent, and the windshield was also damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N271T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N271T), registered now, S/N 18-2385 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105-special) (registry code 7101808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2385 - Airframe hours: 3662 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-CI reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Free Spirit Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2003, 72 hours before - Departed: FTY, Fulton County, GA - Destination: 4A4, Cedartown, GA - Airport: 4A4, Cornelius-Moore Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 16, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 398 total, 11 in this make and model, 328 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KMGE, 31 nm away ## 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 20040428030349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040428030349A), Apr 28, 2004: Piper PA18105SPEC, Cedartown, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon landing on the grass alongside runway 28 at K4A4 (Cedartown, GA) the pilot applied the brakes. The brakes grabbed rather quickly causing the tail of… 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.