Piper PA-18-180 N329DP accident near Chugiak, Alaska

Probable cause

The pilot/airplane owner’s loss of directional control after landing, and the instructor pilot's lack of adequate supervision of the training flight.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was receiving instruction in his newly acquired airplane, which was equipped with 35-inch tundra tailwheel tires. He had not flown an airplane with large wheels previously, so he hired a local flight instructor who had been recommended to him. Neither pilot had previously flown the accident airplane. After initial touchdown of the main landing gear, the pilot pulled the stick aft to bring the tailwheel down. When the tailwheel touched down, the airplane made a hard right turn, which the pilot attempted to correct with left rudder. However, the right turn worsened as the airplane approached the edge of the runway, so he applied heavy braking. The airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC12LA064 for the full record.