Event Details
The incident occurred during a cruise flight at an altitude of approximately 500 feet above the ground. The private pilot/owner occupied the front seat, while a flight instructor, who was present as a passenger and not performing instructional duties, sat in the rear seat.
Sequence of Events
The rear passenger reported smelling smoke. The pilot initially attributed the odor to wood smoke from the area and entered an orbit to review the airplane's checklist. The passenger again stated, "we've got smoke back here, coming from the floorboards." The pilot asked for confirmation, and the passenger reiterated the presence of smoke.
In response, the pilot executed a precautionary landing in a tundra area. During the landing roll, the airplane's tires dug into the soft ground, causing the aircraft to nose over. Subsequent inspection revealed no evidence of fire.
Pilot Information
The pilot reported a total flight time of 105 hours, with 24 hours as pilot-in-command. He had accrued 15 hours in the accident airplane's make and model, including 5 hours as pilot-in-command.
Final Statement
No evidence of fire was discovered after the landing. The aircraft sustained a nose-over during the landing roll on soft tundra.