Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed. A contributing factor was the sudden windshift.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was returning to the operations base after an aerial fertilizer application. He was landing to the north, and noted that the wind was coming from the west. As he flared the airplane to land, the wind shifted to a strong, quartering tailwind. The airplane touched down on the runway, bounced, and then nosed over. During the accident sequence, the right wing sustained damage and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot was returning to the operations base after an aerial fertilizer application. He was landing to the north, and noted that the wind was coming from the west. As he flared the airplane to land, the wind shifted to a strong, quartering tailwind. The airplane touched down on the runway, bounced, and then nosed over. During the accident sequence, the right wing sustained damage and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems.