Piper PA 18-135 accident near Homer, Alaska, September 4, 2014
On September 4, 2014 at about 1:30 am local time, a 1953 Piper PA 18-135, registered N8775C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Homer, Alaska (Martin River Strip Aka Old Hea airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2014 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Homer, Alaska · Martin River Strip Aka Old Hea · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-135, built 1953 · all PA 18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N8775C · registry record · serial 18-2884
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was practicing takeoff and landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, which required a correction for a light and variable southerly wind. The pilot stated that after touchdown, during the landing roll, the tail of the airplane rose up, but there was not enough elevator authority to lower the tail, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 502.2 hours in all; 440.2 in this make and model; 145.3 in the last 90 days; 46.5 in the last 30 days; 458.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 A2B (piston); 3,485 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Homer AK
- Destination: N/A Homer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PAHO, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on October 7, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.