Incident Overview
An airplane involved in a year-long fire detection contract with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources nosed over during a crosswind landing. The pilot reported the event in a telephone interview and provided a written statement.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, the winds were from 170 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. He was executing a 'normal' crosswind approach for a wheel landing on Runway 13. As he passed the wind sock, he noted that 'it stood straight out,' indicating strong wind conditions.
Sequence of Events
During the landing, the pilot felt the airplane swerve to the right, describing it as 'mostly out of control.' The left main tire collapsed, and the wheel dug into the soft surface at the side of the runway. The airplane was nearly stopped when it nosed over onto the left wing and stabilizer.