# NTSB LAX02LA087: Piper PA-18-150, N9299D, Beatty, NV, February 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2002, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Beatty, NV - Coordinates: 37.090301, -116.790351 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0903&lon=-116.7904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54242 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54242/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54242 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings when the airplane started to drift to the right. He applied left rudder but felt that was ineffective. He touched the left heel brake and the airplane immediately nosed over resulting in substantial damage. The pilot said the airplane had a 30.5-gallon fuel tank in each wing. The right tank was 1/2 full and the left tank was 3/4 full. The pilot thought the right brake must have grabbed when he touched the left brake. He thought the fuel must have sloshed forward and caused the nose to drop. The pilot plans to replace the heel brakes with toe brake pedals, and replace the fuel tanks with 12-gallon tanks. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2002, about 1030 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-18-150, N9299D, nosed over during landing at Beatty, Nevada. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Beatty about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot said he was practicing touch-and-go landings. On the accident landing, he landed on centerline and the airplane started to drift to the right. He applied left rudder but felt that was ineffective. He touched the left heel brake and the airplane immediately nosed over. The pilot said the airplane had a 30.5-gallon fuel tank in each wing. The right tank was 1/2 full and the left tank was 3/4 full. The pilot thought the right brake must have grabbed when he touched the left brake. He thought the fuel must have sloshed forward and caused the nose to drop. The pilot plans to replace the heel brakes with toe brake pedals, and replace the fuel tanks with 12-gallon tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9299D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9299D-2019-01-25), registration cancelled 2019-01-25, S/N 18-6606, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6606 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A3B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Cook - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2001 - Departed: BTY, BEATTY, NV - Airport: BTY, Beatty, runway 16, 5,600 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 400 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: LAS, 93 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 20020216002329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020216002329A), Feb 16, 2002: Piper PA18A150, Beatty, NV, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was landing on runway 34 Beatty Airport, with the winds coming straight down the runway at approximately 5 knots. The aircraft hit somewhat hard… ## Other investigations on N9299D (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 ANC14CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA023), Apr 22, 2014: Piper PA 18A 150 (N9299D), Kenai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, resulting in a collision with terrain and ground loop. - [NTSB LAX01LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA130), Mar 29, 2001: Piper PA18-150 (N9299D), Holbrook, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the rudder lower hinge attach point resulting in a loss of rudder control and steerable tailwheel control. A factor was the crosswind condition. - [NTSB ANC95LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA065), Jun 5, 1995: Piper PA-18-150 (N9299D), Manley Hot Spri, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECTLY COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. THE GUSTING WIND CONDITION WAS A FACTOR. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54242. 334 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.