Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's premature liftoff. Factors in the accident are the soft and wet sod runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff from runway 35. The sod field was soft and wet and he elected to use a soft field takeoff technique. Shortly after liftoff, the airplane settled back to the runway. The main landing gear touched down first, followed by the nose wheel, which became mired in the mud and broke off. The airplane subsequently went off the runway and nosed over. The pilot claimed no preaccident mechanical difficulties with the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 11, 1993, about 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N91162, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from Prairie City Airport, Prairie City, Iowa. The private pilot and three passengers aboard were not injured. The local pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 without flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported during a telephone interview he was attempting to takeoff from runway 35. The sod field was soft and wet and he elected to use a soft field takeoff technique. Shortly after liftoff, the airplane settled back to the runway. The main landing gear touched down first, followed by the nose wheel, which became mired in the mud and broke off. The airplane subsequently went off the runway and nosed over. The pilot claimed no preaccident mechanical difficulties with the airplane. -