ANC03LA002

Factual narrative

On October 10, 2002, about 1840 Alaska daylight time, N7027D, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-22 airplane converted to a tailwheel configuration, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, 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 first pilot, seated in the right seat, a certificated flight instructor, and the second pilot seated in the left seat, a certificated private pilot, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Palmer Airport, Palmer, Alaska, about 1800. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator on October 16, the first pilot reported that she was providing flight instruction/recurrent training to the second pilot. She added that the second pilot had accomplished two successful stop-and-go landings prior to the accident landing. The first pilot said that just after landing on runway 03, a dry paved runway, the second pilot allowed the airplane to veer slightly to the left of the runway's centerline. She said that while she attempted to realign the airplane by applying a slight amount of right rudder, the second pilot simultaneously applied heavy braking, and both wheels locked. The airplane subsequently nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The first pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The flight instructor, seated in the right seat, was providing flight instruction/recurrent training to the private pilot, seated in the left seat, in a wheel-equipped airplane converted to a tailwheel configuration. The private pilot had accomplished two successful stop-and-go landings prior to the accident landing. On the third landing, during landing roll on a dry paved runway, the private pilot allowed the airplane to veer slightly to the left of the runway's centerline. The flight instructor attempted to realign the airplane by applying a slight amount of right rudder, the private pilot simultaneously applied heavy braking, and both wheels locked. The airplane subsequently nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The flight instructor noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12