Bushcat N321WL accident near Cairo, Nebraska

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to fly into deteriorating weather conditions, leading to a precautionary off airport soft field landing which resulted in a nose gear collapse and the airplane to nose over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he took off in meteorological conditions after being weathered in for two days. He further reported that while en route to the destination he encountered deteriorating weather conditions and opted to land at a nearby field to allow the weather to pass. The pilot reported that the terrain looked "manageable and smooth enough to land on", he landed using a soft field landing technique, but during the landing roll the nose wheel dug into the grassy terrain which resulted in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

A review of the recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 14 miles south east of the accident, revealed that, within about 10 minutes of the crash, the wind was 080 degrees true at 5 knots, visibility 5 statute miles, and overcast at 800 feet. The pilot reported that the lowest ceiling he encountered was 300 feet AGL.

As a safety recommendation the pilot reported that he should not have let peer pressure allow him to change his own personal weather minimums.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA355 for the full record.