Incident Overview
An airline transport pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when she detected the odor of smoke in the cockpit. In response, she diverted to a small, rough airstrip in the vicinity while attempting to diagnose the issue. Unable to isolate the source of the smoke, she decided to execute a precautionary landing.
Landing and Outcome
During the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft terrain, causing it to nose over. The aircraft sustained damage during the accident sequence.
Postcrash Inspection
A postcrash examination performed by an aircraft mechanic identified that the engine starter had failed to disengage. This malfunction led to the starter overheating, which produced the smoke observed in the cockpit.
Probable Cause
The engine starter failed to disengage, resulting in an overheated starter and smoke in the cockpit.