NTSB Factual Report

On May 27, 2003, at 1735 central daylight time (cdt), an experimental amateur-built Longjev RV-6A, N72159, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over on runway 33 (3,588 feet by 145 feet, turf) at Backus Municipal Airport (7Y3), Backus, Minnesota. The pilot reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight departed Flying Cloud Airport, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 1626.

The pilot reported that approximately 2 miles from 7Y3, he decided to use runway 33 due to his observation of the wind sock and Pine River Airport's (PWC) Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). The pilot reported that during the landing, the main landing gear touched down earlier than he had expected. The airplane then bounced and nosed over.

The PWC AWOS, located 8 miles northwest of 7Y3, recorded, at 1738: wind 260 degrees at 5 knots.

The pilot stated that he recently became part owner in the accident aircraft. He accumulated a total time of 8.9 hours, of which 4 hours were in the past 30 days.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate flare and recovery from a bounced landing.