Summary
On November 20, 2011, a American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC (N131PM) was involved in an incident near Ashton, ID. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot’s poor decision-making when he decided to land on a snowy grass airstrip, which resulted in an encounter with deep snow during the landing roll and a subsequent nose-over.
The student pilot reported that he approached the privately owned rough grass airstrip and observed that it was covered with snow. After evaluating the snow’s depth as being only a few inches, the pilot landed. During rollout, the airplane decelerated quickly and nosed over, bending its vertical stabilizer, wings, and lift struts. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot ascertained that, in fact, the snow was between 6 and 8 inches deep. The student pilot’s certified flight instructor reported that he had not endorsed the student’s flight record logbook in over 90 days, and he had not authorized the student to fly to the accident airport. The student was not current in the airplane.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR12CA041. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N131PM.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot’s poor decision-making when he decided to land on a snowy grass airstrip, which resulted in an encounter with deep snow during the landing roll and a subsequent nose-over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The student pilot reported that he approached the privately owned rough grass airstrip and observed that it was covered with snow. After evaluating the snow’s depth as being only a few inches, the pilot landed. During rollout, the airplane decelerated quickly and nosed over, bending its vertical stabilizer, wings, and lift struts. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot ascertained that, in fact, the snow was between 6 and 8 inches deep. The student pilot’s certified flight instructor reported that he had not endorsed the student’s flight record logbook in over 90 days, and he had not authorized the student to fly to the accident airport. The student was not current in the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR12CA041