Piper PA-18-150 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, August 30, 2023
On August 30, 2023 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA-18-150, registered N416RK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mccarthy, Alaska (Peavine airport). It was a personal 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’s excessive application of brakes during landing that resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2023 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · Peavine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150, built 1966 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N416RK · registry record · serial 18-8434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing, he applied too much brake pressure and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,158 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 22.5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,158 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 2023; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 2,421 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MXY Mccarthy AK at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway none, 1,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from AGK, 87 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAGK 302153Z AUTO 16010G20KT 10SM BKN100 13/07 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP092 T01280067 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 4, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N416RK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.