Accident Overview
The pilot/owner of a tailwheel-equipped biplane conducted two low approaches prior to landing to assess wind direction and speed. The pilot then executed a wheel landing on runway 10, a 4,300-foot-long by 75-foot-wide asphalt runway.
Sequence of Events
At touchdown, the wind speed and direction changed, causing the left wing to rise. The pilot corrected for the wing lift, but the airplane's heading diverged 10 to 15 degrees to the left of the runway heading. Instead of continuing to struggle with runway alignment and risking a loss of aircraft control, the pilot elected to direct the airplane onto the snow-covered apron.
Damage and Post-Accident Observations
As the airplane entered the snow, the main landing gear caught, and the aircraft nosed over. It came to rest inverted, with substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Environmental Conditions
Recorded wind at the airport around the time of the accident was from 010 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The runway surface was asphalt, and the adjacent apron was snow-covered.