CUB CRAFTERS INC CC18-180

Full Narrative

On September 26, 2011, about 1415 Alaska Daylight time, a Cub Crafters CC-18-180 airplane, N907CF, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at an off airport site, about 7 miles east of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was operated by the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public aircraft training flight when the accident occurred. The certificated flight instructor, and the commercial pilot on the controls, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect.

In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board dated September 28, the pilot on controls said they had made numerous landings at several locations during the day. During the accident landing he said he applied what he felt was appropriate braking pressure, but the airplane abruptly nosed over. The pilot reported that the airplane received substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings.

The operator's mechanics traveled to the remote location to recover the airplane. Based on statements made by the pilot, the mechanics examined the airplane's landing gear and brakes at the accident site. According to the director of maintenance for the operator, the mechanics found the main wheels rotated freely, and that after righting the airplane the brakes operated normally.

The airplane was not examined by the NTSB investigator-in-charge.