NTSB Factual Report

On June 18, 2002, at 2100 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Hulle Horizon 1, N816DJ, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after a bounced landing at the Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport (3TR), Niles, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed 3TR and was on a local flight. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported, "Flew left hand pattern for runway 4 - Landed in the grass past intersection. Back taxied runway 4 and took off again. On second landing aircraft bounced, I neutralized the stick and aircraft settled back on grass an[d] nosed over, very quickly. I should have [kept] stick back and controlled descent with throttle." The pilot reported he had 112.8 hours of total flight experience and 7.6 hours of flight experience in the make and model of aircraft. He reported, "Low time tailwheel pilot, just need more experience."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes.