Probable cause
The pilot's excessive brake application during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he was practicing off airport landings on a gravel bar, as part of a backcountry flying course, with a company safety pilot in the rear seat. During the landing roll and as the airplane approached the end of the gravel bar, he applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right forward lift strut and the empennage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA004 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 2, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA 18-150
- N-number
- N8996Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1974
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
Other records under this N-number
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.