Summary
On May 23, 2015, a Lefever Paul M RV12 (N198PR) was involved in an accident near Caledonia, MO. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over.
In an email sent to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector by the pilot, he reported that he was unable to manipulate the fuel station pumps where he had landed, so he decided to fly to another airfield that was about 20 miles away.
The pilot wrote that somehow he did not make the right turn and became "lost". After noticing that his fuel level was low, he decided to make an off airport precautionary landing. The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane's nose wheel caught "heavy grass" and nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA15CA091. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N198PR.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
In an email sent to a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector by the pilot, he reported that he was unable to manipulate the fuel station pumps where he had landed, so he decided to fly to another airfield that was about 20 miles away.
The pilot wrote that somehow he did not make the right turn and became "lost". After noticing that his fuel level was low, he decided to make an off airport precautionary landing. The pilot reported that during the landing, the airplane's nose wheel caught "heavy grass" and nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Due to the pilot's failure to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, it is unknown if there were any pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
After multiple requests, the pilot did not return the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA091