CEN19LA169

The pilot was landing the airplane on his 1,000-ft-long private grass airstrip in light and variable wind conditions when the airplane nosed over upon touchdown, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. Photos provided by law enforcement personnel who responded to the site showed ground scars consistent with the airplane having touched down on soft, muddy terrain and subsequently nosing over.

On May 14, 2019, about 1610 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 162 airplane, N5213Z, nosed over during a landing on a private airstrip near Las Animas, Colorado. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane wings and empennage were substantially damage during the nose over. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the private airstrip at an unknown time. According to a family member, the pilot attempted to land on his grass airstrip. The airplane's nose wheel got caught on soggy river grass, and the airplane nosed over. No other property was damaged. The pilot sustained serious injuries following the accident. The pilot passed away beyond 30 days of the accident. However, the family member added that the pilot was battling health issues before the accident, and she felt the pilot's death was not due to the accident. At 1753, the recorded weather at the La Junta Municipal Airport, near La Junta, Colorado, was: Wind variable at 3 kts; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 30° C; dew point -3° C; altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. According to measurements taken from Google Earth images, the runway was about 1,000 ft long and had about a 143° landing heading. According to images supplied by the Bent County Sheriff's Office, there was tall grass around the accident site and a linear ground scar was present consistent with nose landing gear contact with soft terrain. The pilot of N5213Z had a prior accident at his airstrip. On January 30, 2016, about 1100 mountain standard time, an American Legend Aircraft Co. AL11C 100 tailwheel airplane, N24184, nosed over during a landing there. According to the safety report on that accident, the pilot made an approach to his private sod airstrip after observing rain showers in days previous. The pilot reported that as the main wheels made contact with the soft surface the airplane immediately nosed over.