Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain on which to land the airplane. A factor relating with the accident was: the large rock, which the airplane contacted.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was landing the airplane on his farm in an area which he normally did not use for takeoffs and landing. During the landing roll, the airplane contacted a one foot high, two foot wide rock, which resulted in the nose gear shearing from the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 2, 1996, at 1100 central standard time, a Cessna 150, N3008J, operated by a student pilot nosed over while landing at a private field near Minneapolis, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The student pilot and the one passenger on board were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Derby, Kansas, at 1000 cst. The student pilot reported that while landing on his farm the nose gear struck a rock which was one foot high and two feet wide. He reported that this sheared the nose gear off. The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he landed in a location which he normally did not use for takeoffs and landings. -