Accident Details
The pilot of an airplane reported that during a landing at a short, remote airstrip, the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, he circled the strip to determine the best wind for landing and found only light and variable winds, leading him to land to the east. He missed his intended touchdown point by approximately 30 feet.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that after missing the intended landing point, he cut engine power and did not retract the flaps. Subsequently, the airplane's tail came up. The pilot then relaxed the brakes, and the tail began to settle. When he reapplied the brakes, the airplane nosed over. The pilot estimated that about 100 feet of landing strip remained ahead of the aircraft at the point where it nosed over. He noted that during all of his previous landings at the same remote strip, he had heavy baggage in the rear seat and cargo area of the airplane. He also mentioned being distracted with other things on his mind during the landing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer, as well as damage to wing ribs.