1 Mar 2017: Smith Douglas J. Sonex Ltd.

1 Mar 2017: Smith Douglas J. Sonex Ltd. — Unknown operator

No fatalities • Mercey Hot Springs, CA, United States

Probable cause

The sport pilot’s unstabilized approach with a tailwind, which resulted in touchdown short of the runway and a subsequent nose-over.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The sport pilot reported that he was landing to an airfield and over flew the runway multiple times in search of a wind sock. He watched another airplane land to the south and he made his approach to the south also. He reported that his altitude was too high during his first approach and aborted the landing. He asserted that, "This should have alerted me that there was a tail wind." He flew one traffic pattern and made a second approach with the power at idle and full flaps. He established his approach but the airplane sank quickly and touched down short of the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the canopy, the vertical stabilizer and the rudder.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

According to the Airport Facility Directory, the airfield is equipped with a wind indicator. However, no wind indicator could be located on or near the airfield by the NTSB investigator-in-charge.

Contributing factors

  • cause Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Pilot
  • cause Pilot
  • cause Effect on operation

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 340/03kt, vis 10sm

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