The pilot was landing a wheel-equipped airplane on a remote, snow-covered, seasonal airstrip. When the airplane touched down, the nose gear broke through the five-to-six inches of crusted snow on the runway and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wings. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane. The FAA Airport/Facility Directory entry for the airport notes the airport is unattended and closed from October 1 through June 1 each year.
January 6, 2010, Metaline Falls, Wash., Cessna 182J
The pilot was landing a wheel-equipped airplane on a remote, snow-covered, seasonal airstrip. When the airplane touched down, the nose gear broke through the five-to-six inches of crusted snow on the runway and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and wings. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane.
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot nosed over their airplane while landing on a remote, snow-covered, seasonal airstrip.
- The incident occurred when the nose gear broke through 5-6 inches of crusted snow, causing substantial damage to the aircraft's vertical stabilizer and wings.
- The airstrip was unattended and officially closed for the season from October 1 to June 1, as noted in the FAA Airport/Facility Directory.
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