NTSB Factual Report

On October 31, 2001, at 1050 eastern standard time, a Luscombe LL-8-E floatplane, N1243K, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing on the grass which paralleled taxiway A at the Antrim County Airport (ACB), Bellaire, Michigan. The airline transport pilot, who had single and multiengine seaplane ratings, was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Lake Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Michigan, at 1040 and was making a full stop landing on the grass at ACB. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported he landed the airplane with a slight nose high attitude, using a small amount of power to skid the floats onto the grass at 50 mph. He reported that, "After a measured run out distance of 43' the floats settled thru the grass into the soft sand. At 54' run out distance, [the] floats dug into sand and caused airplane to flip over, upside down." The pilot reported he had been landing floatplanes on grass for 20 years.

NTSB Probable Cause

the unsuitable terrain for landing selected by the pilot. A factor was the soft terrain.