Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. The snow covered runway was a related factor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 2, 1996, at 1700 mountain standard time, a Cessna R172K, N2925V, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during the landing roll at the Garden Valley Airport, Garden Valley, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Nampa, Idaho, about 40 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported that he made two passes over the airport and thought that there were only about three inches of snow on the runway surface. An approach for a soft field landing was made to runway 10. During the landing roll, the airplane's nose wheel dug into the snow and the airplane nosed over. It was later determined that there were approximately 15 inches of snow on the runway.
The Airport/Facility Directory for the Garden Valley Airport indicates that the airport is unattended and there is no winter maintenance.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA96LA053