Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight to a remote, off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot said that before landing he intended to fly a low pass over the snow-covered site to determine the condition of the snowpack, a maneuver commonly known as dragging the landing site. He said that as the main landing gear wheels touched down atop the frozen layer of crusty snow, the wheels broke through, and the airplane subsequently nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight to a remote, off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. In an effort to assess the suitability of the selected landing area, the pilot stated that he executed a maneuver commonly referred to as "dragging the runway." He said he made a low pass with the intention of the landing gear contacting the snow while keeping the weight of the airplane off the wheels. He said as the main landing gear wheels touched down atop the frozen layer of crusty snow, the wheels broke through, and the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.