GAA19CA522

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, he wanted to "practice" a rejected takeoff on a downhill, 2,344 ft grass runway. During the simulated rejected takeoff, the airplane floated and did not settle immediately on the runway. He felt he could not go around, so he landed the airplane, applied brakes, and the airplane overran the runway down a shallow embankment and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he should have practiced the maneuver on a longer runway. The pilot reported that he wanted to practice a rejected takeoff on a downhill, 2,344-ft-long grass runway. During the simulated rejected takeoff, the airplane floated and did not settle immediately on the runway. He did not believe he could go around, so he landed the airplane and applied brakes. Subsequently, the airplane overran the runway, went down an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that he should have practiced the maneuver on a longer runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven terrain-Decision related to condition - C