What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting practice touch-and-go landings at an airport. Initially, operations were conducted on Runway 11. However, a change in wind direction necessitated a shift in active runway usage, with operations moving to Runway 4.
During the first traffic pattern for landing on Runway 4, the pilot reported that the approach was flown higher and faster than optimal. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control. The plane swerved sharply to the left, departing the paved surface of the runway. It then encountered soft terrain off the runway environment, which resulted in the aircraft nosing over.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed damage consistent with a nose-over incident following an off-runway excursion. The pilot stated that the loss of control was immediate upon touchdown during the high and fast approach on the newly active runway.
Findings
Contributing factors included the wind shift requiring a runway change, the high and fast approach profile, and the subsequent loss of directional control on touchdown. The soft terrain off the runway contributed to the final nose-over position of the aircraft.