# NTSB DEN08CA025: Piper PA-18-150, N6ZT, Cortez, CO, November 5, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 5, 2007, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Coordinates: 37.303054, -108.628051
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3031&lon=-108.6281&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67049
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67049/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA025

## Probable cause

The passenger's inadvertent application of brakes, causing the airplane to nose over on landing.  A contributing factor was the pilot's failure top adequately brief the passenger.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - inadvertent use, passenger (cause)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not issued, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot made a full-stall (conventional) landing.  When the airplane touched down, he felt "a sudden slowing of the aircraft" and the "tail rapidly coming up."  He yelled at the passenger to get his feet off the brake pedals.  The pilot said the "passenger had no idea he was touching the brake pedals as he braces himself for landing."  The airplane then nosed over during the landing rollout.

## Factual narrative

The pilot made a full-stall (conventional) landing.  When the airplane touched down, he felt "a sudden slowing of the aircraft" and the "tail rapidly coming up."  He yelled at the passenger to get his feet off the brake pedals.  The pilot said the "passenger had no idea he was touching the brake pedals as he brace[d] himself for landing."  The airplane then nosed over during landing rollout.

Asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot wrote:  "Always warn passengers about the dual controls and to be sure they know where the pedals are [and] to keep their feet completely away from them, especially during landing."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6ZT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6ZT), registered now, S/N 18-5824, built 1957 (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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-5824
- Airframe hours: 5709
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eddie L. Lewis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007
- Departed: CEZ, Cortez, CO
- Destination: CEZ, Cortez, CO
- Airport: CEZ, Cortez Municipal, runway 03, 7,205 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 544 total, 61 in this make and model, 510 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observed at: CEZ

## 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 20071105824669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071105824669A), Nov 5, 2007: Piper PA18150, Cortez, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot landed the aircraft after local flight around cez (Cortez, CO), 11/05/07, 11:00 MST. Upon touchdown, the passenger inadvertently applied the…

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.