Nose gear collapse during landing at Melo International Airport

Casualties unknown • UY

A Cessna 170-B experienced a nose-over during its landing roll at Melo, Uruguay, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What happened

On August 25, 2012, a Cessna 170-B, registered as CX-APC and operated by the Aeroclub Melo, was conducting a local flight with four occupants on board. Around 16:00 local time, the aircraft landed on runway 25 at the Melo International Airport under variable wind conditions ranging from 200 to 240 degrees at 15 to 20 knots.

During the landing roll, the left wing lifted, attempting to enter a ground loop. In an effort to prevent this maneuver, the pilot applied the brakes. This action caused the aircraft to pitch forward, coming to rest on its nose. While the aircraft remained intact without fire, fuel began leaking from the tank vents due to the nose-down position. The crew successfully repositioned the aircraft onto its landing gear to mitigate the fuel leak.

All four occupants evacuated the aircraft uninjured. To avoid obstructing active runway operations, the aircraft was removed from the site shortly after the incident.

The investigation

The CIAIA did not conduct a formal on-site investigation because the agency did not attend the scene and the aircraft had been moved from the accident location prior to their arrival.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced a nose-over during the landing roll following an attempt to correct a wing lift/ground loop via heavy braking.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the null aircraft accident near UY?

A Cessna 170-B experienced a nose-over during its landing roll at Melo, Uruguay, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on null involved a aircraft, registration CX-APC, at UY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft experienced a nose-over during the landing roll following an attempt to correct a wing lift/ground loop via heavy braking.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.