Incident Details
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 172 modified with a Robertson STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) kit. After operating the aircraft in slow flight for approximately half an hour, the pilot decided to land.
Sequence of Events
The approach was flown at 45 knots with a sink rate of 500 feet per minute. Just before touchdown, the pilot added power to arrest the sink rate. However, according to reports, too much power was applied, causing the aircraft to bounce and balloon upward. In response, the pilot overreacted and reduced power excessively, leading to a second bounce. Following the second bounce, the pilot applied full power, but the aircraft drifted to the left of the runway and touched down in a soft area. The nose gear sheared off upon contact with the soft terrain, and the airplane flipped over.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that he was unfamiliar with the aircraft's response to power inputs. He assumed that, based on his experience with other models, he could safely fly the STOL version of the Cessna 172.