# NTSB GAA19CA530: Piper PA 18, N72842, Chickaloon, AK, September 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2019, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.673053, -148.546951 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6731&lon=-148.5470&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA530 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100219/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100219 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA530 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and the pilot's improper pitch control during the landing roll which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he was landing for a second time on an uphill, 500 ft gravel strip. He completed a 3-point landing and applied full aft pressure on the control stick. During the bumpy landing roll, about 200 ft from the touchdown point, the tail went up in the air, and he tried to increase the throttle setting to full, but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he was landing for a second time on an uphill, 500 ft gravel strip. He completed a 3-point landing and applied full aft pressure on the control stick. During the bumpy landing roll, about 200 ft from the touchdown point, the tail went up in the air, and he tried to increase the throttle setting to full, but the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N72842 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 18 (105 SPECIA) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-192 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 6603 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2019 - Departed: PAQ, Palmer, AK - Destination: Chickaloon, AK - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 4, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 568 total, 117 in this make and model, 527 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: PAAQ, 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 20190901014689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190901014689A), Sep 1, 2019: Piper PA-18, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. PIC planned to make 4 trips hauling game meat and friends in and out of the landing strip on the day of the accident. On the second flight, coming in for… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100219. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480143&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.