What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was on final approach for landing. As the pilot initiated the flare phase to reduce descent rate, the aircraft encountered a wind shear condition. This sudden change in wind speed or direction caused the aircraft to land harder than intended. The impact force was sufficient to collapse the nose gear assembly.
Following the initial touchdown, the aircraft bounced off the runway surface and moved laterally to the left side of the paved area. During this lateral movement, the nose section dug into soft turf adjacent to the runway. This interaction with the ground caused the aircraft to lose stability and come to rest in an inverted position on its back.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the hard landing and subsequent rollover. The structural integrity of the airframe was compromised by the impact forces transmitted through the nose gear and fuselage.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the encounter with wind shear during the critical flare phase of flight. The pilot's inability to maintain control or adjust for the wind conditions resulted in a hard landing. The collapse of the nose gear and the subsequent bounce contributed to the loss of directional control and the final inverted rest position.
The instructor pilot and the student pilot were not injured in the accident. Despite the substantial damage to the aircraft, both individuals exited the wreckage safely.