Piper PA-18-180 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, July 4, 2012
On July 4, 2012 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-180, registered N329DP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Chugiak, Alaska (Goose Bay airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot/airplane owner’s loss of directional control after landing, and the instructor pilot's lack of adequate supervision of the training flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2012 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Goose Bay · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-180 · all PA-18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N329DP · registry record · serial 18-7609149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,200 hours in all; 160 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 5,021 as pilot in command; 580 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,373 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,241 as pilot in command; 1,130 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 9, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABV Chugiak AK at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Z40 Birchwood AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.