On July 9, 1991, a Grumman G-164B (registration N6628Q) operated by Bettencourt Flying Svc., Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Crows Landing, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to identify the correct landing strip while landing into the sun, resulting in touchdown on soft, uneven ground parallel to the intended work strip. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft nosed over after landing on a strip of land parallel to the intended work strip, which was soft and uneven due to recent plowing.
What happened
During the landing phase, the aircraft touched down and immediately dug into the soil, resulting in a nose-over incident. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land directly into the morning sun, which likely affected his visual perception of the runway environment.
He stated that he intended to land on what appeared to be the designated 'work strip.' However, he had actually landed on a separate strip of land situated parallel to the work strip. The ground conditions were unfavorable; the soil was soft and uneven because it had been recently plowed. These surface irregularities contributed to the aircraft's inability to remain upright upon touchdown.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's account of the landing site selection and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The primary finding was a misidentification of the landing area due to visual constraints caused by the sun's position.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to identify the correct landing strip while landing into the sun, resulting in touchdown on soft, uneven ground parallel to the intended work strip.