On July 4, 2012, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N329DP, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at the Goose Bay Airport, about 9 miles northwest of Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport rated pilot, who was the airplane owner, seated in the front seat, sustained minor injuries, and the airline transport rated certificated flight instructor (CFI), seated in the rear seat was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Birchwood Airport about 1245.
At the time of the accident, the pilot/airplane owner had a current biennial flight review, along with a tailwheel endorsement.
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) dated July 8, the pilot/airplane owner reported that he had recently acquired the highly modified airplane. The airplane was equipped with 35-inch Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires among other performance enhancing modifications. He said that he had not flown an airplane equipped with large tundra tires, so he hired a local CFI that was recommended by local pilots. Neither pilot had flown the accident airplane. He said that before departing from the Birchwood Airport, they taxied the airplane around to get a feel of its handling characteristics, and the pilot said he noticed that he had to use the brakes in addition to the rudder to get the airplane to turn.
After an uneventful takeoff from the Birchwood Airport, they flew a series of flight maneuvers before proceeding to the Goose Bay Airport for their first landing on the 3,000 foot long gravel runway. The pilot/airplane owner said he wanted to do full stop, three-point landings, and the CFI suggested he use a 50 mph approach speed, with 10 degrees of flaps for the first landing. After touching down on the main landing gear, the pilot/airplane owner pulled the stick aft to bring the tailwheel down. He said when the tailwheel touched down the airplane made a hard right turn, which he attempted to correct with left rudder. The right turn got worse as the airplane approached the edge of the runway, so he applied heavy braking, and the airplane nosed over.
In a written statement dated July 13, the CFI reported that the initial touchdown on the main landing gear was fine, but when the tailwheel touched down the airplane made an immediate right turn. He said he was unable to stop the turn with left rudder, and as they approached the edge of the runway the pilot/airplane owner applied heavy braking, and the airplane subsequently nosed over.
A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.
The Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, contained an optional area for recommendations as to how the accident could have been prevented. The pilot/airplane owner wrote, in part: “I firmly believe that I should have gotten a more seasoned instructor. I expect an instructor to take control, or at least verbalize instructions loudly and clearly in a situation like ours.”