Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over.
NTSB 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.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15CA091 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 23, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Caledonia, Missouri
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built RV12
- N-number
- N198PR
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2011
- 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.