Casualties unknown

Aircraft Noses Over on Landing, Comes to Rest Inverted (N21CY)

Berryville, VA, US

On October 15, 2000, a Yakovlev 52 (registration N21CY) was involved in an aviation accident near Berryville, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the nose landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a landing on a sod strip, an aircraft bounced, nosed over, and inverted. The nose landing gear separated; examination showed overstress failures. No mechanical deficiencies were reported prior.

Accident Details

According to the pilot, the landing was performed on a sod strip. He reported that all three landing gear contacted the ground simultaneously. The aircraft then bounced, made a second touchdown, nosed over, and came to rest in an inverted position. The nose landing gear became separated from the aircraft during the sequence of events.

Examination of Components

An examination of the fracture surfaces on the nose landing gear components was conducted. The investigation revealed that all failures were the result of overstress. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X22168. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.