PA-18/19 Super Cub
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 3800; Flight Crew Type 75
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I decided to land on what I believed was frozen solid snow on X Lake. After 5 test touchdowns (power not completely back at idle) I deemed it safe to land. On the sixth attempt I decided to commit to the landing after feeling pretty comfortable with the ground below. As I pulled the power completely to idle I felt the snow break under me. It was too late to add power so instinctively; as I felt the nose slowly tumble forward and the wheels stick in place; I quickly reached for the mixture to stop the prop. The plane continued to roll forward on its nose slowly. I decided to call for help because I could not right the plane myself.
The pilot of a Super Cub landed on a frozen lake after several test landings; but had the surface give way under the nose wheel.