Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over. The tailwind was a related factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was on his first flight to this private airstip. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and nosed over. According to the pilot, he 'spent about one-half hour locating the field . . . made a low pass to inspect runway, then flew pattern to land. I had been advised runway was uphill to the east, so landed with slight quartering tailwind. I was high on approach, so I side-slipped to lose altitude. When I kicked the airplane out of the slip. I had insufficient airspeed to totally arrest descent, and landed very hard and flipped over.' The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 28, 1996, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140A, N3788V, landed hard and nosed over during landing at a private field at Edinboro, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated in Meadville, Pennsylvania at 1400. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was on his first flight to this private field. According to the pilot, he "spent about one-half hour locating the field . . . made a low pass to inspect runway, then flew pattern to land. I had been advised runway was uphill to the east, so landed with slight quartering tailwind. I was high on approach, so I side slipped to lose altitude. When I kickedthe airplane out of the slip. I had insufficient airspeed to totally arrest descent, and landed very hard and flipped over." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction. He stated the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a go-around. -