Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While landing on a wet, soft, sod runway, the pilot lost control of the airplane. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded off the runway into a ditch.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 10, 1995, about 1010 eastern daylight time, N461MC, a Cessna 404, registered to and operated by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, a 14 CFR Part 91 public use flight, experienced a nose gear collapse on landing at Raiford Prison Airstrip, Raiford, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight had originated from Titusville, Florida, about 0930 the same day. The pilot reported that while landing on the wet, sod airstrip the airplane decelerated rapidly, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then skidded into a ditch. -