On May 15, 1999, a Piper PA-18 (registration N7051) was involved in an aviation accident near Nome, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing on a gravel road, which led to the airplane drifting into soft snow and nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a landing on a gravel road, the aircraft encountered crosswind conditions that caused it to drift right into soft snow, resulting in a nose-down impact.
What happened
The pilot was attempting to land an airplane on a gravel road under windy conditions. The wind was blowing from forty degrees left of the nose at a speed of twelve knots. According to the pilot's statement to the investigator-in-charge, the landing itself appeared normal initially. However, the aircraft began to crow hop and subsequently drifted toward the right side of the road.
As the airplane moved off the paved surface, the wheels made contact with soft snow located on the shoulder. This sudden change in terrain caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch down abruptly, resulting in a nose-over incident.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing on a gravel road, which led to the airplane drifting into soft snow and nosing over.