Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during transition from landing roll to taxi. A factor relating to the accident was: a soft area in the grass runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that during landing roll at a private grass strip, he 'lost control of the aircraft, when he ran into soft terrain.' In the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that as he was 'taxiing off [the] strip to park', he 'crossed [a] ditch' and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest inverted, adjacent to the runway. Both wings and the fire wall were structurally damaged. No mechanical defects were found that would have contributed to the nose gear collapse.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 16, 1995, approximately 1315 central standard time, a Piper PA-28, N6551J, registered to a private owner, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, was substantially damaged during landing at a private grass airstrip, near Heber Springs, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot-in-command was not injured. The flight originated from Searcy, Arkansas about 45 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported to a FAA inspector that, during landing roll, he "lost control of the aircraft when he ran into soft terrain." In the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that, as he was "taxiing off [the] strip to park", he "crossed [a] ditch" and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest inverted, adjacent to the runway. Both wings and the fire wall were structurally damaged. -