The Accident
On May 28, 2018, at about 1300 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, registration N68AX, sustained substantial damage following a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and a nose over while landing at Yerington Municipal Airport (O43), Yerington, Nevada. The airplane was registered to M & B Holdings, LLC and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, after conducting multiple uneventful landings at O43, they were returning for a full stop landing. The pilot reported that the touchdown on the main wheels was normal, but immediately after the nose wheel came into contact with the asphalt surface, the airplane veered sharply to the left. It exited the improved runway surface and encountered an area of soft sand. The nose wheel separated from the fuselage, and the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.
Weather Conditions
The closest weather reporting facility was Minden-Tahoe Airport (KMEV), Minden, Nevada, about 28 miles west of the accident site. At 1253, an automated weather observation from KMEV reported: wind from 30° at 8 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature, 66°F; dew point 39°F; altimeter setting, 30.19 inches of mercury.
Wreckage Disposition
The airplane's wreckage was disposed of without the knowledge or consent of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Consequently, the wreckage could not be examined by investigators.