Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to determine runway conditions prior to landing which resulted in the airplane being damaged upon touchdown on the snow covered runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot made a landing on a runway covered with approximately 20 inches of wet snow. Upon touchdown, the nose wheel dug into the snow and the airplane pitched over on its nose, struck both wing tips and spun approx 90 degrees to the right. The pilot said he was aware that he was landing on an unplowed runway; however, it had only snowed 2-4 inches where he departed from and he believed there was a similar snow fall at his destination airport. There was no record that the pilot checked with flight service prior to departure, and there was no NOTAM published on the airport conditions at the time of the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
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