Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during slow flight over a private airstrip the airplane lost more altitude than he expected. He stated that he made a series of errors so he decided to land the airplane. A hard landing was made. The nose gear broke off and the airplane nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 18, 1995, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2439Q, landed hard and nosed over at a private airstrip in Gretna, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The personal flight departed Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and its final destination was Danville, Virginia. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during slow flight over his private airstrip the airplane lost more altitude than he expected. The pilot wrote, "...pulled back on plane and a series of pilot errors, or misjudgments caused me to decide to land and I nosed down more than I had expected - The front wheel hit hard and broke and nose gear dug in and flipped the plane." -