NTSB Factual Report

On June 30, 2001, about 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N8638V, operated by the Nevada Soaring Association, Inc., Reno, Nevada, nosed over during landing rollout on a road near Nixon, Nevada. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Sparks, Nevada, about 1730.

The tow plane pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he planned to land on the road to pickup a glider, which had previously landed there. The ground crew indicated via radio that the road was long enough for him to land. The pilot stated to the investigator that his approach may have been slightly fast, and he touched down long on the downhill road with a slight tailwind. He also may have also misjudged the available stopping distance. As the tow plane approached the stationary glider, the pilot applied heavy breaks, and the tow plane nosed over.

In the pilot's completed report he indicated that when he landed on the hard gravel road heading 180 degrees, the wind was from 300 degrees, at 5 knots. He also indicated that because the glider's ground crew had parked the glider in the middle of the road, the available 4,000-foot-long road landing area was reduced to about 2,000 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point and his misjudged distance/speed during landing rollout. Factors were the tailwind condition and the downhill landing area.