20141017019559I

While conducting approach and landing procedures into Prescott airport, pilot initiated the down selector switch for the landing gear prior to entering base. During approach the pilot noticed the down and locked indicators for the main landing gear were illuminated however not the nose gear. Pilot made a couple of attempts to retract and lower the nose gear however failed to get a down and locked nose gear indication.

The pilot requested assistance from ATC to verify if he had a nose gear extension problem. ATC assisted the pilot and verified that the nose wheel was partially extended. According to the pilot he decided to continue to fly the aircraft for approximately an hour and then decided to land the aircraft on runway 3 right. During landing the aircraft the pilot kept a nose up attitude as long as he could shutting the engine off. Prior to the aircraft nosing over and coming to a full stop, the initial contact of the nose wheel onto the runway caused the wheel and tire assembly to be ejected away from the aircraft. No injuries were incurred. Wheel and tire assembly was recovered at the scene however the landing gear attachment bolt for nose wheel assembly missing and has not been found.