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Atlas / NTSB / ANC23LA055

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC23LA055

2023-07-13 Palmer, Alaska, United States Minor 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N37WP

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-18

Engine

LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19560531

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A43374

Registrant of record

KINNEY JOSEPH B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

Factual narrative

The instructor pilot reported that he was conducting training in a tailwheel equipped airplane, and during takeoff the student pilot inadvertently applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. The instructor pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot
  • Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Incorrect use/operation
  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Student/instructed pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_ANC23LA055.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.