Probable cause
The pilot's encounter with a rut while landing on an unimproved dry lake bed.
NTSB analysis
During a landing on a dry lake bed the aircraft encountered a rut and nosed over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose gear and the wings. The pilot reported that during the landing he did not see the rut until it was too late.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA135 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 2, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Salome, Arizona
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cosmos PHASE 2
- N-number
- N4832
- Category
- Weight-shift
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.