Pilot Reports Nose-Over After Landing on Snow-Covered Runway

Event Details

During a landing on a snow-covered runway, a pilot experienced a sudden nose-over after touchdown. The airplane traveled approximately 80 feet in a nose-down attitude before abruptly nosing over, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and rudder.

Pilot Account

The pilot reported that before landing, he overflew the runway and determined it was suitable based on the presence of snowmobile tracks, which indicated the surface was firm enough. After touching down, he held the nose wheel off the ground with full aft elevator pressure. However, when he lowered the nose wheel onto the snow-covered surface, the airplane pitched down violently. The pilot stated that no mechanical issues with the airplane would have prevented its normal operation.