# NTSB GAA16CA004: Piper PA 18-150, N8996Y, Talkeetna, AK, October 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 1, 2015, 18:02 local (Oct 2, 2015, 02:02 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.101387, -150.07611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1014&lon=-150.0761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92125/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92125 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive brake application during landing, which resulted 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) - [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-landing roll: 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 he was practicing off airport landings on a gravel bar, as part of a backcountry flying course, with a company safety pilot in the rear seat. During the landing roll and as the airplane approached the end of the gravel bar, he applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right forward lift strut and the empennage. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was practicing off airport landings on a gravel bar, as part of a backcountry flying course, with a company safety pilot in the rear seat. During the landing roll and as the airplane approached the end of the gravel bar, he applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right forward lift strut and the empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8996Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8996Y), registered now, S/N 18-7409138, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150) - 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: 18-7409138 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 2833.6 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2015 - Departed: 4AK6, PALMER, AK - Destination: 4AK6, PALMER, AK - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; military, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,400 total, 24 in this make and model, 2,761 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.47 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 16 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 20151001022309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151001022309A), Oct 1, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. Mishap pilot (mp) was in front seat of PA-18 doing an off airfield landing. Aircraft was equipped with tundra tires. Mp touched down farther down sandbar than… ## Other investigations on N8996Y (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 ANC21LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA054), Jul 1, 2021: Piper PA-18-150 (N8996Y), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s excessive use of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and the gusty tailwind conditions. - [NTSB ANC80DAG62](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG62-201182), Jun 1, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N8996Y), Willow, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC76DAA67](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAA67), Sep 5, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N8996Y), Baird Mts, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 20, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92125. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Email from Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Wreckage Recovery Service) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Wreckage%20Recovery%20Service)-Master.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.