NTSB Factual Report

On October 12, 2001, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A150L, N6020J, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting to land in the vicinity of Buena Vista, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, and the commercially-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed Tifton, Georgia about 35 minutes before the accident.

According to the pilot, he checked the surface wind condition at Souther Field, Americus, Georgia, before his landing and was given 160 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. He chose to land on a 120 degree heading on the grass strip and after he touched down, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to become airborne about 5 feet agl, and the second touchdown hit the ground hard. The modified tail wheel configured aircraft dug the propeller into the grass and nosed over.

According to an FAA inspector, the pilot stated to him, "The aircraft stalled on landing and nosed over". When the recovery crew arrived at the wreckage site, the aircraft was found inverted, on centerline of the 2,800 by 75 foot sod strip, about mid-length on the runway. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent, both wing and right side fuselage skins revealed wrinkling, and the propeller was bent.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to use proper bounced landing technique, resulting in a hard touchdown, propeller strike, and noseover.