NTSB Factual Report

On June 7, 2003, at 1000 central daylight time, an amateur built Kilished RV-8 tailwheel equipped airplane, N888GK, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing roll at a private airstrip near Crawford, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot/builder. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Lancaster Airport, near Lancaster, Texas, at 0930, and was destined for Scott Airport, near Crawford, Texas.

The 967-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while on final approach for runway 17, a 1,900 foot long, 120-foot wide grass runway, he stabilized the aircraft at 65 knots, aiming to touch down approximately one third of the way down the runway. The aircraft "floated slightly, then skipped before settling on the ground." The pilot stated the aircraft "touched down longer than he intended, and the aircraft was not slowed sufficiently to stop at the end of the runway." The pilot further stated that he "applied full left ruder (and tailwheel steering) to ground loop the airplane rather than go into a ditch at the end of the runway." Subsequently, the aircraft nosed over coming to rest inverted.

An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the vertical stabilizer and left wing were structurally damaged, the fuselage was wrinkled near the canopy, and the propeller was bent.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's intentional ground looping of the airplane. A contributing factor was the pilot's improper in-flight planning resulting in an improper selection of a touchdown point.