NTSB Factual Report

On August 14, 2002, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 170 airplane, N2558D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over following a loss of control while landing at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Soldotna Airport about 1930.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 14, the pilot reported that he was conducting touch and go landings on runway 25. He said the airplane touched down hard and bounced, and the propeller contacted the runway surface. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the pilot applied the brakes. The airplane then nosed over, receiving damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

At 1955, an automated weather observation system (AWOS) at Soldotna was reporting in part: Wind, calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 64 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 30.36 inHg.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's excessive braking which resulted in a nose over.