NTSB Factual Report

According to the pilot, he was flying the tailwheel-equipped airplane from the rear seat. During the landing flare, with the control stick in an aft position, the control stick's rubber handgrip slipped off, allowing the stick to move forward. Before he could recover the stick, the airplane pitched down, and landed hard.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, the forward lower fuselage and the longerons in the tail section.

NTSB Probable Cause

The control stick handgrip separation from the control stick resulting in the airplane pitching forward, which resulted in hard landing.