On May 7, 2006, a Cessna 170B (registration N2396D) operated by Mark Svabik was involved in an aviation accident near Chickaloon, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose over during the landing roll. A factor associated with the accident was the snow on the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot on a personal cross-country flight reported that snow depth caused the main landing gear to break through the surface crust, resulting in a nose-over and damage to the vertical tail and wingtip.
Incident Overview
A pilot conducting a personal cross-country flight under 14 CFR Part 91 elected to land en route at an airport where he had previously landed. During the approach, he flew over the landing area and assessed that the snow on the runway was not significantly deep, based on the lack of snow surrounding the runway.
Sequence of Events
Approaching the end of the landing roll, the airplane's main landing gear wheels broke through the surface crust of snow, causing the airplane to nose over. In a written statement to the NTSB dated May 19, the pilot reported that the airplane sustained damage to the vertical tail and wingtip.
Pilot Report
The pilot further stated that the snow was 6 inches deep and described it as "the root of the problem."