Event ANC04LA006

Factual narrative

On November 7, 2003, at 1127 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7509K, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, 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 airplane was operated by the student pilot/owner. The student pilot and the flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the local area flight, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 12, the student pilot reported that he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 31 with his flight instructor. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left, and he applied the right brake. He said he then applied excessive braking action on both brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, wingtips, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The student pilot had accrued about 17 total flight hours. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the flight instructor, the instructor reported that as the airplane began to veer to the left, the student applied right rudder, but then overcorrected by locking the right brake. The student then locked both brakes, and the airplane nosed over. In the optional section of the NTSB form, titled "Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation (How could this accident have been prevented)," the instructor indicated, "more training on proper braking techniques." At 1114, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for the Lake Hood Strip was reporting, in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles in light rain; clouds and sky condition, few at 800 feet, 3,100 feet overcast; temperature, 39 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 30.07 inHg. The certificated flight instructor and the student pilot/owner of the tailwheel-equipped airplane were conducting touch and go landings. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer to the left, and the student pilot reported that he applied the right brake. He said he then applied excessive braking action on both brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, wingtips, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The student pilot had accrued about 17 total flight hours. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12