Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, which resulted in his failure to reach the proper touchdown point for landing. Factors related to the accident were: the variable wind condition, and rising terrain (no overrun) at the approach end of the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot's statement, he was flying to Bear Cove to position the airplane for a passenger pickup. He aligned the airplane to land to the west into the wind. On short final the windsock went limp, and the airplane struck the runway's threshold, which was situated on a bluff. Subsequently, the nose gear sheared off, and the airplane nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 6, 1995, at 0715 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N37EW, operated by Homer Air Service of Homer, Alaska, undershot the landing airstrip and nosed over during a landing attempt on a remote airstrip locally known as "Bear Cove" which is located in Bear Cove at the head of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. The positioning flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Seldovia, Alaska, and the destination was Bear Cove. A company visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the statement attached to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot was landing to the west into an estimated 8 knot headwind. Just prior to touchdown the pilot wrote that the windsock went limp and the airplane struck the threshold of the runway which was located on a bluff. The nose gear sheared off and when the airplane touched down on the runway it nosed over. -