Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing rollout. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in the airplane.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he carried some additional power during the landing phase to prevent shock cooling the plane's new engine. The winds were reported by the atis to be from 230 degrees at 4 knots. Shortly after touchdown, the plane began to veer to the right. Corrective action was applied and the aircraft veered to the left, departed the left side of the runway, and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 10, 1994, at 1440 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180A airplane, N288LS, departed the side of runway 24 at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska during the landing rollout and nosed over. The private certificated pilot-in-command, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the Merrill Airport at approximately 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that for the approach/landing, he carried some additional engine power to prevent shock cooling the plane's new engine. The ATIS winds were 230 at 4 knots. Shortly after touchdown, the plane began to veer to the right. Corrective action was applied with no immediate result and the engine power was chopped. The plane then began to veer to the left dragging the left wing tip on the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, proceeded through the snow, and nosed over onto its back coming to rest 20 to 30 feet from the edge of the runway. -