PIPER PA 18-125

Full Narrative

The pilot said that he had completed one high and two low reconnaissance flights over the snow-covered runway in his tundra tire-equipped, tailwheel airplane. Prior to landing, he intended to fly a low pass and drag the main landing gear along the surface of the runway to determine the depth of the snow, a maneuver commonly known as dragging the landing site. He said that as the main landing gear wheels touched down atop the frozen layer of crusty snow, the wheels broke through, and the airplane's tail began to rise. In an effort to prevent a nose over, he applied full power, but the airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the rudder and both left and right lift struts.

The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he would have utilized a flatter approach with increased airspeed similar to a glassy water approach while dragging the airstrip.