No fatalities

27 Jun 2019: Piper PA 12 No Series — Skwentna, AK

Skwentna, AK, United States

On 27 Jun 2019, a Piper PA 12 No Series was involved in an aviation accident near Skwentna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's use of excessive brakes during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel airplane nosed over after the pilot aborted takeoff from a backcountry strip; damage occurred to the right-wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

Incident Overview

A pilot operating a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll from a backcountry airstrip, the aircraft failed to lift off around the midpoint of the strip. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, reducing the throttle and applying the brakes. As the airplane slowed, the pilot reached for the mixture lever, at which point the airplane nosed over.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. No other damage was reported.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No further details regarding the cause of the failed lift-off or the nosed-over event were provided.

Context

The incident occurred on a backcountry strip, which typically implies a remote or unpaved airstrip. The pilot was operating a tailwheel airplane, which has a landing gear configuration with a rear wheel instead of a nose wheel. The exact aircraft type, registration, and other specifics were not disclosed in the report.

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operation