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GAA19CA497

2019-08-15 · McCarthy, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N2534M

Make / Model
PIPER PA-12
Year of manufacture
1946 · 73 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A26593

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's overapplication of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during landing, on an uphill, 4,500 ft long unimproved airstrip, the airplane bounced and "floated." When the airplane touched down again, he applied brakes, and upon reaching the end of the airstrip, he aggressively applied brakes and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was 180° at 5 knots. The airplane landed to the north. The pilot reported that, during landing on an uphill, 4,500-ft-long unimproved airstrip, the airplane bounced and floated. When the airplane touched down again, he applied brakes, and upon reaching the end of the airstrip, he aggressively applied brakes, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. 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.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Brake-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Surface speed/braking-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA497.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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