# NTSB WPR09CA295: Piper PA-18-150, N4155U, Dixie, ID, June 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2009, 07:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Dixie, ID - Coordinates: 43.320556, -115.450836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3206&lon=-115.4508&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 September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74079/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74079 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA295 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive braking during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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) ## Analysis The pilot was making a landing on a dirt landing area that also doubled as the main road in the center of the remote mountain town. He intentionally landed a little long in order to miss the substantial puddle of water near the approach end of the landing area. He began applying brakes while the airplane was going about 20 miles per hour, but his brake application was of sufficient force to result in the airplane nosing over onto its back. The sequence of events resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and one wing lift strut. The pilot said that there was nothing wrong with the braking system, and that he should have either delayed his braking or applied the brakes with "more finesse." ## Factual narrative The pilot was making a landing on a dirt landing area that also doubled as the main road in the center of the remote mountain town. He intentionally landed a little long in order to miss the substantial puddle of water near the approach end of the landing area. He began applying brakes while the airplane was going about 20 miles per hour, but his brake application was of sufficient force to result in the airplane nosing over onto its back. The sequence of events resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and one wing lift strut. The pilot said that there was nothing wrong with the braking system, and that he should have either delayed his braking or applied the brakes with "more finesse." ## Aircraft - Registration: N4155U (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1809068 - Airframe hours: 445 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Peter J. Ryan - Registered owner: Hartman Land LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2009 - Departed: 2U8, Stanley, ID - Destination: Dixie, ID - Airport: 00, Dixie Town, runway 27, 3,000 × 80 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 366 total, 58 in this make and model ## 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 20090618012549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090618012549A), Jun 18, 2009: Piper PA18150, Dixie, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Landed long and applied brakes too hard. Aircraft equipped with tundra tires and good brakes. Aircraft flipped on its back due to hard breaking. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74079. 645 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 645 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316141&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.