What happened
The aircraft was operating on a rudimentary airstrip that had been manually scraped from the ground using a blade. During the construction of this facility, a berm approximately one and a half feet high was left on each side of the runway surface. While conducting the landing roll, the pilot maintained the nose wheel off the ground while encountering a left quartering tailwind. This wind condition caused the aircraft to drift toward the right side of the strip.
To counteract the drift, the pilot applied left rudder input. However, before the pilot could lower the nosewheel for full weight on the main gear, the main landing gear struck the berm on the right side. The impact with the berm resulted in the aircraft nosing over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the physical evidence at the site and the operational conditions during the accident sequence. Investigators examined the condition of the strip, noting the presence of the construction berms. They analyzed the wind conditions, which included a left quartering tailwind that induced rightward drift. The mechanical examination confirmed that the main gear struck the berm before the nosewheel touched down.
Findings
The accident was caused by the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and avoid the berm during the landing roll on an unpaved strip with side obstructions. Contributing factors included the use of a narrow, manually constructed airstrip with high berms and the timing of the nosewheel touchdown relative to the crosswind correction.
Safety message
Pilots operating on unpaved strips should be aware of potential surface irregularities and construction remnants such as berms. Proper crosswind landing techniques require careful monitoring of drift and timely nosewheel touchdown to prevent gear strikes.