Primary finding
Probable cause
the nose gear collapsed when it hit a soft spot in the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he had called to determine the condition of the runway the day before the flight and was told that the runway condition presented 'no problem.' The pilot reported that he had landed at the McGregor Airport at 0730 CDT on runway 15. At 1330 CDT he departed runway 33 to refuel at Aitkin, Minnesota. He returned to McGregor at 1400 CDT and landed on runway 33. The pilot reported that he made a short/soft field landing. The pilot reported that when the nose wheel touched down, it hit a soft spot in the grass runway and collapsed. An examination of runway 33 revealed that it had soft spots and standing water.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 18, 1996, at 1500 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna 150, N3750V, operated by Multiflight, Inc., sustained substantial damage during landing roll when the nose gear collapsed and the left wing spar was damaged. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight had departed Aitkin Municipal Airport, Aitkin, Minnesota, and had landed at Isedor Iverson Airport, McGregor, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had called the McGregor City Hall on May 17, 1996, to check the condition of the runway, and was told that the runway condition was, "no problem." The pilot reported that he landed at the McGregor Airport on May 18, 1996, at 0730 CDT on runway 15. At 1330 CDT he departed runway 33 to refuel at Aitkin, Minnesota. He returned to McGregor at 1400 CDT and landed on runway 33. The pilot reported that he made a short/soft field landing. The pilot reported that when the nose wheel touched down, it hit a soft spot in the grass runway and collapsed. An Operations Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration reported that he noted soft spots and standing water on runway 33 at the McGregor Airport. -