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ANC25LA073

2025-07-10 · Palmer, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport NONE

Current FAA registration · N27293

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-135
Year of manufacture
1954 · 71 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O-320-A2B (150 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20090701
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A2B199

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the landing after determining the landing area was unsuitable.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at a remote off airport site, he added power twice to clear areas of rough terrain just before touchdown. When the airplane eventually touched down, it bounced and continued further down the site. During the second touchdown, as the landing roll continued, the pilot realized that there was not ample room to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the site, so he applied heavy braking action. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Incorrect use/operation
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_ANC25LA073.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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