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ANC20CA042

2020-04-10 · Homer, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport HOM

Current FAA registration · N184WF

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18A 150
Year of manufacture
1959 · 61 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19600601
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A15182

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's overapplication of the brakes during landing and the subsequent loss of directional control and nose-over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the wheel/ski-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll-out on the dry, paved runway, the airplane began to veer right, and he attempted to correct with left rudder and brake. Subsequently, the tail lifted, the tips of the skis dug into the grooved pavement, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right-wing lift strut. The pilot added that he should have been "more aggressive" with the rudder and braking sooner. He further reported the weather was "nice," he had a long runway to utilize, but got "fooled into complacency". The pilot reported that he felt the usage of his flight helmet during the accident sequence was essential to the prevention of injury. The pilot of the wheel- and ski-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll on the dry, paved runway, the airplane began to veer right, and he attempted to correct with left rudder and brake. Subsequently, the tail lifted, the tips of the skis dug into the grooved pavement, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and right-wing lift strut. The pilot added that he should have been "more aggressive" with the rudder and applied brakes sooner. He added that he had a long runway to use but got "fooled into complacency." The pilot reported that he felt his use of a flight helmet during the accident sequence was essential to the prevention of injury. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Personality/attitude-Complacency-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ANC20CA042.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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