Casualties unknown

2001-07-30: Aeronca 7AC (N82559) — Edwin L Apperson — Skwentna, AK

Skwentna, AK, US

On July 30, 2001, an Aeronca 7AC (registration N82559) operated by Edwin L Apperson was involved in an aviation accident near Skwentna, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing roll. 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 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot nosed over his airplane during a landing roll after applying recently-modified hydraulic brakes, reporting he was unaware of their increased effectiveness.

Accident Details

During what was described as a routine practice session of stop-and-go landings, a certificated commercial pilot experienced a nose-over event on the second landing roll. According to the pilot's account, after touching down, he applied the brakes to bring the airplane to a stop. Instead of decelerating normally, the airplane nosed over, causing the propeller to strike the ground and damage the forward fuselage.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported that the airplane had recently undergone a modification: the original braking system was replaced with new, double puck hydraulic brakes. He stated that he was simply not aware of how well the new brakes worked, implying that the sudden and unexpected braking force led to the nose-over. The pilot further noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane; the brakes functioned as designed.

No other details about the location, date, aircraft type, or registration were provided in the initial report. The incident remains under review.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010824X01771. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.