# NTSB CEN26LA020: Piper PA18, N82016, Reserve, LA, October 15, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 15, 2025, 14:57 local (19:57 UTC)
- Place: Reserve, LA
- Coordinates: 30.083346, -90.581564 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0833&lon=-90.5816&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- 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: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201865
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201865/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201865
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA020

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadvertent application of the wheel brakes after touchdown.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that on his fourth landing after the airplane touched down, he accidentally bumped the brakes causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82016](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82016), registered now, S/N 18-7909052, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18 (150)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7909052
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 3179.2
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 2025, 17 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: APS, Port Of South Louisiana Exec Rgnl, runway 35, 5,151 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 119.4 total, 14.7 in this make and model, 74.3 as pilot in command, 24.1 in the last 90 days, 18.7 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: KAPS
- METAR: KAPS 151955Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM CLR 31/14 A2998 RMK A02 T03140139

## 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 20251015016559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251015016559A), Oct 15, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Reserve, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was performing full stop landing practice, on grass strip. During the fourth landing, he inadvertently applied the brakes prior to the tail wheel making…

## Other investigations on N82016 (3)

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 ANC12LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12LA097), Sep 2, 2012: Piper PA-18-150 (N82016), Coldfoot, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering to reverse course.
- [NTSB LAX82DA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA157), May 1, 1982: Piper PA-18-150 (N82016), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX80FUJ90](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUJ90), Aug 6, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N82016), Mesa, AZ, substantial damage

## 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=201865. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19600229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20SIGNED_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19600662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA020%20Photos%202-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.