Event ANC03CA081

Factual narrative

On July 21, 2003, at 1032 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 140 airplane, N72860, sustained substantial damage when the airplane nosed over during landing at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1010. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 21, the pilot reported she landed on runway 24 at Merrill Field. The pilot said she landed slightly long, and during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left. She said she used the rudder and the brakes in an attempt to regain directional control, but the airplane suddenly nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, fuselage, wings, vertical stabilizer and rudder. Runway 24 is an asphalt-surfaced runway that is 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, in the section, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented?), the pilot wrote: "Ensure tailwheel is on the ground when brakes are applied, or do not apply brakes at all." At 0953, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Merrill Field was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 4,000 feet scattered, 7,000 feet overcast; temperature, 63 degrees F; dew point, 55 degrees F; altimeter, 29.92 inHg. The private certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on an asphalt-surfaced runway that was 4,000-feet-long and 100-feet-wide. The pilot reported she landed slightly long, and during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. She said she used the rudder and the brakes in an attempt to regain directional control, but the airplane suddenly nosed over. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, in the section, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented?), the pilot wrote: "Ensure tailwheel is on the ground when brakes are applied, or do not apply brakes at all." Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12