Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's selection of unsuitable terrain and the berm on the airstrip.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot-in-command elected to land on an old oil company airstrip that had been plowed. The airstrip was 10,000 feet long and 200 feet wide. He decided to use only the southeastern 2000 feet. He made 6 over flights of the airstrip and did not see any berms on the southeast end of the airstrip. Upon touchdown the airplane's landing gear struck a berm and the airplane nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 8, 1993, at 1300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, registered to Cranford Aviation of King Salmon, Alaska, and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, struck a berm on landing and nosed over. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed King Salmon, and the destination was the field site located 55 miles southeast of King Salmon. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Pilot-in-Command and his passenger were not injured. According to the Pilot-in-Command, after landing and during the rollout, the airplane's main landing gear struck a berm and the airplane nosed over. -