LEFEVER PAUL M RV12 near Caledonia, MO — 2015-05-23

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over.

NTSB narrative

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.

NTSB coding

• Fuel related · Enroute-cruise
• Decision Making / Judgment
• Planning / Preparation

Evidence available

• Photos
• 3 docket documents

Docket documents3

• Record of Email from Pilot to FAA (courtesy of the FAA)other
• Photo 1-View of firewall damage (photo courtesy of the FAA)photos
• Photo 2-View of airplane from front (photo courtesy of the FAA)photos

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