What happened
The aircraft was operating on runway 9 when it encountered a severe wind shear during the landing roll and taxi phase. This sudden change in wind conditions caused the aircraft to deviate from its intended path of travel. The plane moved onto a muddy section of the sod runway, where the nose landing gear sank approximately 6 to 8 inches into the soft ground.
The structural integrity of the nose landing gear was compromised as it sheared off under the stress. Despite the loss of the nose gear, the aircraft continued to move forward for about 70 feet before it nosed over and came to a complete stop in an inverted position.
The investigation
Post-accident analysis focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators noted that the nose landing gear had sheared off after sinking into the soft, muddy terrain. The aircraft's final resting position was inverted, indicating a significant loss of control during the ground roll.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the severe wind shear which altered the aircraft's trajectory onto unstable ground. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 050 degrees at 11 knots. The combination of the wind deviation and the soft runway surface led to the collapse of the nose landing gear.
Safety message
Pilots should exercise extreme caution when operating on sod or unpaved runways, particularly during landing roll. Severe wind shear can cause unexpected deviations in direction of travel, increasing the risk of landing gear failure if the aircraft encounters soft or muddy sections of the runway.