Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was soft terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The certificated airline transport pilot was landing on a remote area of beach. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires settled into a soft muddy area and the airplane nosed over. It received damage to the left wing and rudder.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 28, 1996, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180, N212RF, nosed over while landing on a remote area of beach, about 7 miles west of Hope, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Quartz Creek airport, Cooper Landing, Alaska, at 1230. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he was landing on a 1,500 feet long area to the west. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires settled into a soft muddy area and the airplane nosed over. It received damage to the leading edge of the left wing, wing tip and rudder. -