Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in a nose-over.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had not landed at the destination airport “in several years.” Although the airport had a paved runway, the pilot preferred to land on grass rather than pavement. Since he had landed on the grassy area adjacent to the left side of the runway during his previous visit, he decided to land on it once again. From the air, “it looked good," so he proceeded to land. During the landing, he realized that the grass was not mowed and was "over waist deep." Upon touch down, the main landing gear caught the grass, the airplane nosed over, and the pilot sustained a fractured vertebrae. For grass operations, the airport had been using the mowed area to the right side of the runway.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA271 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 15, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Kingston, Tennessee
- Nearest airport
- Riley Creek Airport (12TN)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Champion 7BCM
- N-number
- N1415E
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.