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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 5, 2004 · Piper PA-18-160 · N8918Y

Chugiak, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 5, 2004
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Chugiak, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-160
Tail Number
N8918Y
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC04LA073

The solo student pilot reported that he had been practicing touch-and-go landings on a gravel covered, 2,200 feet long runway. He said that after completing four successful touch-and-go landings, he elected to do a full stop landing. During the accident landing the roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left, and the pilot applied the brakes in an attempt to realign the airplane with the runway. The pilot reported that he inadvertently applied too much brake pressure as the airplane neared the end of the landing roll, and the airplane nosed over. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's excessive use of the airplane's brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.

Full Narrative

On July 5, 2004, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during the landing roll at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 0930. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 5, the pilot reported that he had been practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 1R, which is gravel covered, and is 2,200 feet long by 50 feet wide. He said that after completing four successful touch-and-go landings, he elected to do a full stop landing. During the accident landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the left, and the pilot applied the brakes in an attempt to realign the airplane with the runway. The pilot reported that he inadvertently applied too much brake pressure as the airplane neared the end of the landing roll, and the airplane nosed over. He stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 AKDT
Nearest AirportBirchwood (0nm)
Runway01
Runway Length2200 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-160
Tail NumberN8918Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 35 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 50
Altimeter29.85 inHg
Observation Time13:36
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data