Overview
On a solo cross-country flight, a student pilot attempted a landing with a slight crosswind. After touching down, the pilot encountered a gust of wind, causing the aircraft to swerve left. The left landing gear contacted hard frozen snow. The pilot then overcorrected, causing the aircraft to swerve right into hard snow, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
Pilot Statement
According to the student pilot, "I adjusted for a slight crosswind and touched down... I was surprised at how narrow the runway was, but thought I could handle it. At the last moment I encountered a gust and I swerved to the left causing my left landing gear to contact hard frozen snow... I must have overcorrected because I soon swerved... right into hard snow." The aircraft nosed over following this sequence.
Pilot Experience
At the time of the incident, the student pilot had a total of 37 flight hours. The aircraft was being operated on a solo cross-country flight.