Aircraft Crashes During Low Pass Over Snow-Covered Runway (N84631)

Incident Narrative

The crash occurred while the aircraft was conducting a low pass over a runway covered with snow. The pilot stated that two low passes were made. On the second pass, the aircraft was operating within ground effect, encountering mild upward and downward drafts while using a minimal power setting. The left wing was lowered because of a left crosswind. The pilot was occupying the right seat and first looked out the right window. The pilot described being 3 to 4 feet above the snow surface at a speed around 65 to 70 miles per hour. After shifting his gaze to the front and then to the left, the aircraft abruptly pitched nose-down. Subsequently, the right wing made contact with the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled to the left.

Pilot Remarks

In a written report, the pilot expressed that during the second pass, he should have been flying substantially higher and with an additional 5 to 10 knots of airspeed.