Accident Details
On August 15, 2015, at approximately 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna 172C, registration N1805Y, nosed down after landing on a soggy portion of the runway at Port Eads Airstrip in Venice, Louisiana. The pilot and two passengers reported minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage.
Aircraft and Flight
The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Diamondhead, Mississippi, around 1030, with Port Eads as its destination. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Account
In his accident report, the pilot stated that during the landing approach with 20 degrees of flaps, an indicated airspeed of 60 miles per hour, and a rate of descent of 200 feet per minute, he observed a small rain squall approximately two miles south of the airstrip, which produced a light to moderate crosswind. Just before entering ground effect, he noticed a drop in airspeed and applied full power. The airplane touched down on the lower end of the runway, which was soggy. The nose gear sank into the soft ground, causing the airplane to slide to a stop.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination revealed a damaged wing spar and a buckled firewall. The pilot's written statement to the Federal Aviation Administration corroborated the details provided in his accident report.