Skwentna, AK, USA
N49JT
Cessna 180
The private certificated pilot was landing the tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote area where he had landed in the past. The area was covered by what the pilot said he thought was about 3 inches of powder snow. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires sank in deep and crusty snow, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The landing area was actually covered by about 14 inches of snow, not 3 inches. The airplane received structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer.
On November 9, 2003, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N49JT, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote area, about 25 miles southwest of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Big Lake Airport, Big Lake, Alaska, about 1400. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Air Safety Investigator on November 10, the pilot reported that he was landing at a remote area where he had landed in the past. The area was covered by what the pilot said he thought was about 3 inches of powder snow. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires encountered and sank in crusty and deep snow, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The pilot said the landing area was actually covered by about 14 inches of snow, not 3 inches. The airplane received structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer.
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of deep/soft snow.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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