Probable cause
The pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was landing at a 900-foot-long, remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said that during the landing roll, the airplane veered slightly to the right, and then it went down a small embankment. The pilot said he inadvertently applied heavy braking, both wheels "locked," and the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC12CA102 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 31, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Aniak, Alaska
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-12
- N-number
- N3615M
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.