Casualties unknown

Nose-over incident during landing rollout (N40552)

Front Royal, VA, US

On February 19, 1983, a Piper PA-18 (registration N40552) was involved in an aviation accident near Front Royal, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, resulting in a nose-over after the aircraft skipped and the tail oscillated upward. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A light aircraft nosed over after skipping upon touchdown and experiencing tail-up oscillations during the landing rollout, with no mechanical failures reported.

What happened

The aircraft experienced a nose-over incident while conducting a landing operation. Upon initial touchdown, the aircraft skipped off the runway surface. The pilot attempted to reland the aircraft, but the tail section began to rise repeatedly. During this sequence, back pressure was applied to the control stick, which ultimately caused the aircraft to pitch forward and rest on its nose.

The investigation

A review of the incident revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or system failures that contributed to the event. The physical damage sustained by the airframe was consistent with the described nose-over dynamics during the landing phase.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's handling of the aircraft after the initial skip. The repeated tail-up oscillations combined with forward control stick pressure led to the loss of directional control and the subsequent nose-over. No written report was filed by the pilot for further documentation.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, resulting in a nose-over after the aircraft skipped and the tail oscillated upward.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X42144. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.