NTSB Factual Report

On July 22, 2004, about 2107 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper J5A airplane, N2364, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the initial takeoff roll at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required for the local area flight.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 23, the pilot reported that the intended purpose of the flight was to accomplish several touch-and-go landings. The pilot said that as he began his initial takeoff roll on runway 17, the airplane began to veer slightly to the left of the runway centerline. He said that in an attempt to correct the veer, he applied a slight amount of right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left of the runway centerline. When he applied additional pressure to the right rudder pedal in an attempt to correct the veer, the right main wheel brake "locked up" and the airplane subsequently nosed over. He reported that after the accident he discovered that he had inadvertently been depressing the brake pedal with the heel of his shoe. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadvertent use of the airplane's brakes during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.