N4331N

On August 30, 2002, at 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 195, N4331N, nosed over following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 22 (5,000 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at the Shenandoah Municipal Airport (SDA), Shenandoah, Iowa. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Longmont, Colorado, at 0824 mountain daylight time.

The pilot reported that he was stopping at SDA for an en route fuel stop on his way to Blakesburg, Iowa. He reported he contacted Flight Watch several times during the flight and he listened to the SDA Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) prior to landing. He stated the AWOS reported the winds as being from 150 degrees at 9 knots, then later as being from 140 degrees at 8 knots. The AWOS was also reporting that runway 12/30 was closed for maintenance so the pilot made his landing approach to runway 22.

The pilot reported that after touchdown the airplane weathervaned into the wind and traveled off the left side of the runway. He reported he used right rudder and the brakes to get the airplane back on the runway heading while in the grass. The airplane then ground looped to the right and nosed over.

The pilot report that after leaving the hospital, he returned to the airport and the airplane was being put in the hangar. He reported, "They detached the tow and tried to push the plane into the hangar. They were unable to do so because the right brake was locked. The driver of the tow truck then disconnected the right brake line on the right landing gear and the brake immediately released."

The 1305 weather observation taken at SDA showed the winds were from 110 degrees at 8 knots.

Skid marks from the right main landing gear were visible on the runway.