Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to assure the suitability of the landing area prior to the flight. The dark night and the badger hole were factors in the accident.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After conducting a reconnaissance flight over the field he was going to spray, the pilot then overflew the dirt airstrip to check for obstacles and landed. During roll-out, the left wheel entered a badger hole and the airplane nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 22, 1994, at 0100 hours mountain standard time, a Schweizer G-164B, N3626D, nosed over during the landing roll on a privately owned airstrip near Ligurta, Arizona. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules local aerial application reconnaissance flight. The airplane, owned and operated by Pierce Aviation, Buckeye, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Rolle Airport, Rolle, Arizona, at 0030 hours. The pilot reported in the aircraft accident report that after departing Rolle Airport he conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight over the field he was going to spray. He then overflew the privately owned dirt airstrip to check for obstacles and landed. During the landing roll-out, the left main wheel entered a badger hole and the airplane nosed over. -