Nose Landing Gear Collapse During Soft-Field Landing on Turf Runway

Accident Details

The pilot of an airplane reported that he touched down on a rough, turf surface runway and employed a soft-field landing technique. He recalled that during the landing roll, he held the nose landing gear off the runway until the airplane's groundspeed decreased to 20 knots. Shortly after the nose gear contacted the ground, it collapsed.

Damage and Findings

The accident sequence resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Pilot Statement

The pilot's account indicates that the landing technique was performed as intended, but the nose gear collapsed upon contact with the runway surface.