Casualties unknown

Aircraft Noses Over During Snow Landing Practice (N26HV)

Eden, UT, US

On January 4, 2001, an Aviat A-1A (registration N26HV) was involved in an aviation accident near Eden, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a landing attempt. A contributing factor was his failure to check the snow conditions in the field before the flight. 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

A pilot practicing landings on a snow-covered field experienced an accident when the snow crust broke, causing the tire to sink and the airplane to nose over.

Accident Details

A pilot planning to practice landings on a snow-covered field near his home conducted a low pass over the area, dragging one tire in the snow. The pilot reported that there were 2 to 3 inches of snow at his residence, but he had not checked the snow conditions in the field prior to the flight.

During the maneuver, the crust covering the snow broke, and the tire was pulled into the snow. The aircraft subsequently nosed over to an inverted position.

Pilot Actions

The pilot stated that he was flying low over the field while dragging one tire in the snow. He did not assess the snow conditions in the field before the flight. The accident occurred when the snow crust failed under the weight of the tire.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane came to rest inverted. The extent of damage to the aircraft is not specified in the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010110X00098. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.