Aircraft: American Champion 8GCBC Injuries: None. Location: Ashton, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The student pilot was not current in the airplane and his 90 day solo endorsement had expired. He had not been signed off to go to the accident airport.
He intended to land on a privately-owned, rough grass airstrip covered with snow.
He estimated the snow’s depth as being only a few inches, but during the landing roll, as the airplane decelerated quickly, sank in the snow, then nosed over, he realized that the snow was between 6 and 8 inches deep.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s poor decision-making when he decided to land on a snowy grass airstrip, which resulted in an encounter with deep snow during the landing roll and a subsequent nose-over.
NTSB Identification: WPR12CA041
This November 2011 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Per commedian Ron White: “You can’t fix stupid!”
Unfortunately there are those that don’t make good decisions but hopefully this will serve to remind students and licensed pilots that making the right choice can make the difference between a good pilot and a poor pilot.
Student Pilots do not have access to an aircraft without CFI Approval and verifies condition of the airport and runway in my operation.
And to paraphrase Forrest Gump; “Stupid does as stupid says”!