Casualties unknown

Airplane Noses Over During Back-Taxiing After Abrupt Brake Application (N6854P)

Owyhee, OR, US

On August 15, 1995, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N6854P) was involved in an aviation accident near Owyhee, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS DIVERSION OF ATTENTION. 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

During back-taxiing on a runway, a pilot applied the left brake firmly, causing an abrupt left turn and ground loop. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot's attention was diverted to checking for chuck holes out the side window.

Incident Overview

The pilot reported that during the back-taxiing procedure on the runway, he firmly pressed the left brake, which initiated an abrupt left turn. This action caused the airplane to begin a ground loop, during which the nose went down. The airplane continued to nose over and ultimately came to rest in an inverted position.

Sequence of Events

According to the pilot's account, the incident began as he was back-taxiing. After applying firm pressure to the left brake, the airplane turned sharply left and entered a ground loop. The nose dropped, and the airplane continued its rotation until it was fully inverted. The pilot stated that his attention was diverted from looking out the front of the airplane to looking out the side window to check for chuck holes on the runway. He was not aware that the tail was coming up until the airplane was already in the process of nosing over.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that his focus on the side window for chuck holes caused him to miss the initial signs of the tail rising. He only realized the airplane was nosing over when it was already underway. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or injuries were provided in the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04384. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.