WPR10CA414

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-18 · Buena, WA · August 19, 2010

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 19, 2010, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Buena, WA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1662PPiper PA-18
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 16, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
FAA report
20100819041499A
Case key
77015

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s excessive brake application, resulting in a nose over.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Landing gear system: brakeAircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operationPiper PA-18: 2 casesAll aircraft: 297 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: use of equip/systemPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotPiper PA-18: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,391 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot departed with the intention of performing a practice flight in the local area. After departing he decided to fly to a grass strip and practice landings. During the second landing, while on the landing roll, he applied brakes and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine. The pilot stated that, in hindsight, he felt that the airplane would not have nosed over if he had applied less brake pressure.

Factual narrative

The pilot departed with the intention of performing a practice flight in the local area. After departing to the south and climbing to 2,500 feet, he noted that it was a little bumpy. He decided to fly to a grass strip, and practice landings. It still seemed bumpy at 2,500 feet, but he noticed that the American flag on the strip indicated no wind. He completed one uneventful touch-and-go landing; he touched down on the main landing gear with no bounce. After letting the tail wheel touch down and letting the airplane slow a bit, he applied power and took off. On downwind, the flag indicated a variable wind that was less than 5 knots. The second touchdown was soft with no bounce like the first one, and the airplane tracked straight down the runway. If the pilot detected any difference in the two landings, it was that speed on the second might have been slightly faster than the first one, and the airplane was in a more level attitude. He applied brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine. In hindsight, the pilot felt that the airplane would not have nosed over if he had applied less brake pressure.

Aircraft

Registration
N1662P
Reported as
Piper PA-18
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18-3784
Airframe hours
3,173
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Richard Cole
Registered owner
Richard Cole
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 11, 2009 · 43 hours before
Departed
YKM · Yakima, WA
Destination
Buena, WA
Airport
WA97 · Buena, runway 28, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
78
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
December 8, 2009
Seat
Front
Flight hours
2,383 total · 383 in this make and model · 2,383 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
29.79 inHg
Observed at
KYKM

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 389 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N1662P · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.