The flight instructor reported that during the instructional flight, the student was making a low pass over a snow-covered runway at the airport in Dubois, Idaho, when they experienced a downdraft that decreased the airspeed and increased the descent rate.
The flight instructor reported that he was too relaxed and should have added power at that moment, but didn’t. The airplane’s wheels made contact with the snow and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.
The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage to the wings.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain a proper airspeed and descent rate while conducting a low pass over a snow-covered runway after encountering a downdraft and the flight instructor’s delayed action, which resulted in the wheels contacting the snow and the airplane nosing over.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This February 2020 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.
I have to yet encounter a downdraft in a snow covered runway
correct me if I am wrong