What happened
A private pilot was operating a personal flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The objective was to land at an off-airport location that was covered with snow and ice. The aircraft in question was equipped with a tailwheel configuration.
Upon touchdown, the main landing gear wheels penetrated a thin layer of ice on the surface. This loss of traction caused the airplane to pitch forward, resulting in a nose-over incident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft prior to the accident.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed structural damage to the right wing lift strut. The pilot confirmed that the mechanical condition of the airplane was normal before the event.