Incident Overview
A certificated private pilot departed from a portion of the Glenn Highway but remembered that he had forgotten the keys to his car, which was parked at his destination airport. He elected to return to the parking area.
Sequence of Events
While taxiing to the parking area, the pilot applied the brakes, causing both main wheels to slide on the snow-covered highway. When the left main wheel contacted a patch of dry pavement, the airplane veered to the left, collided with a drainage ditch, and nosed over.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, left lift-strut, and empennage.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.