Pilot Debrief

Piper PA18 near Chugiak, AK — 2019-09-05

Final reportANC19LA053
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Date
2019-09-05
Location
Chugiak, AK, USA
Airport
BCV
Aircraft
Piper PA18
Registration
N5057Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

One of the pilot’s inadvertent application of the airplane's brakes, which resulted in a nose over.

NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor, he took control of the airplane from the private pilot receiving instruction to demonstrate a landing. During the landing rollout and after the tailwheel was down, he noticed the tail begin to rise. As the tail continued to rise, he asked the pilot receiving instruction "what are you doing?" The pilot receiving instruction responded "I don't know, what are you doing?" The airplane subsequently nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the right lift strut and rudder. Both pilots denied applying pressure to the heel brake pedals. ; however, one of them had to have inadvertently applied the heel brakes fore the tailwheel to rise. An inspection of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have aborted the landing when tail began to rise.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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