# NTSB LAX05CA212: Piper PA-18-135, N2663A, Pine Valley, CA, June 19, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 19, 2005, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Pine Valley, CA - Coordinates: 32.831111, -116.578613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8311&lon=-116.5786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61752/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA212 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff and excessive brake application. A contributing factor was the downsloping terrain used for the landing and takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - grass - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during an aborted takeoff in a pasture following a touch-and-go landing. The pilot had landed on the downhill grass-covered pasture to practice touch-and-go landings. The landing was uneventful. However, during the takeoff roll when the airplane approached the end of the field, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. According to the pilot, his brake application was excessive and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical malfunctions were experienced with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2005, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135, N2663A, nosed over during an aborted takeoff from an open field about 5 miles west of Pine Valley, California. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured during the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from San Diego, California, about 0900. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he planned to practice touch-and-go landings on the grass-covered pasture in his conventional gear airplane. The pilot made an uneventful landing, and he applied engine power to takeoff. During the takeoff roll as the airplane was approaching the end of the field, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. He stated, "I hit the brakes too hard," and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions were experienced with his airplane. The pilot subsequently reported that the pasture on which he had landed was sloped downhill. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2663A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2663A-2019-01-14), registration cancelled 2019-01-14, S/N 18-2177, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2177 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-135 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas M. Towne - Registered owner: Tom Towne - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SEE, San Diego, CA - Destination: N/A, Pine Valley, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 900 total, 150 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20050619010909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050619010909A), Jun 19, 2005: Piper PA18135, Pine Valley, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) N2663A, a PA-18-135, departed gillespie field (see) on 6/19/05 with one individual on board. Approximately 2 miles west of Pine Valley, California, the… ## Other investigations on N2663A (2) 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 LAX82DA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA211), Jun 7, 1982: Piper PA-18 (N2663A), Colusa, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX80DVG08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVG08), Dec 1, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N2663A), Colusa, CA, substantial damage 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.