Accident Summary
A single-engine aircraft nosed over after landing in a plowed field adjacent to the runway during a night approach to an unlighted field. The accident occurred when the pilot executed a slip to lose altitude but inadvertently allowed the aircraft to drift beyond the runway side boundary.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the night approach was made to an unlighted field. In order to avoid trees off the approach end of the runway, the pilot came in high. After crossing the runway threshold, the pilot reduced the power to idle. Realizing that the aircraft was too high, the pilot elected to perform a slip maneuver to lose altitude.
Sequence of Events
During the slip, the aircraft drifted beyond the side boundary of the runway and touched down in an adjacent plowed field. The touchdown itself was uneventful, but soon thereafter the nose gear sank into the soft dirt, causing the aircraft to nose over. The pilot stated that he did not realize the aircraft had drifted over the plowed field until after the nose gear started to sink into the terrain.