On April 12, 1991, a Luscombe 8A (registration CGWGZ) operated by Mike Schell was involved in an aviation accident near Fibre, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT ATTEMPTING TO TAXI ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot executed a precautionary landing due to engine oil pressure and temperature anomalies. The aircraft subsequently nosed over while taxiing in snow toward a nearby farm.
What happened
The accident airplane nosed over while taxiing after completing an off-airport precautionary landing. According to the pilot, the decision to land was made after observing a decrease in engine oil pressure and an increase in engine oil temperature. The landing itself was successful. However, while taxiing from the landing site toward a nearby farm house, the aircraft nosed over in the snow.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical status of the aircraft following the precautionary landing. The pilot reported specific changes in engine oil pressure and temperature prior to the landing. No further mechanical examination details were provided in the source text regarding the nose-over event itself, other than the environmental condition of snow.
Findings
Contributing factors included the initial engine oil pressure decrease and oil temperature increase that necessitated the precautionary landing. The subsequent nosing over occurred while taxiing in snowy conditions toward a nearby farm house.