Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the student pilot, during a local flight he elected to make an off-airport landing. During the landing, the main landing gear encountered a ditch that had been obscured by tall grass and, when the landing gear struck the ditch, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported he was on a personal local flight when he elected to make an off-airport landing. During the landing the main landing gear encountered a ditch that had been obscured by tall grass. The student pilot said that when the landing gear struck the ditch, the airplane nosed over. He said prior to the accident there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.