On December 21, 2005, a Piper PA-22-108 (registration N4680Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Spirit Lake, IA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot using an unsuitable runway and not maintaining directional control during the landing leading to the nose over on impact with snow. A factor was the snow that remained on the runway after plowing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing on a private airstrip, snow on the runway edges caused the nose wheel to become stuck, leading the aircraft to nose over.
Accident Report
While landing on a private airstrip, the airplane encountered snow on the runway and subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that he had removed snow from the runway the day prior to the accident.
Pilot's Description
According to the pilot's statement, after touchdown the left wheel entered snow at the runway's edge. While applying brakes and making corrections, the aircraft's right wheel also caught snow on the opposite edge. This pulled the nose wheel into the snow. The aircraft slowed rapidly. Then, without warning, the left wing and the nose pitched forward, causing the aircraft to nose over. The pilot concluded his account by stating that the incident was "all over" at that point.
Additional Details
The accident occurred on a private airstrip. The pilot had performed snow removal on the runway the day before. The pilot's description indicates that snow on both edges of the runway contributed to the sequence that led to the nose-over.