Amateur-built CHRISTAVIA N383JA accident near South Saint Paul, Minnesota

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that while rolling out on the grass between the runway and taxiway, the airplane began to slowly pitch forward until it nosed over. The pilot attempted to correct with full back pressure on the yoke; however, the airplane did not respond to the control input. The pilot reported that he touched the brakes during the roll out. The airplane came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, left wing, and lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land the airplane on a non-approved landing surface between the runway and taxiway.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA331 for the full record.