Event SEA07LA087

Factual narrative

On March 31, 2007, approximately 1515 mountain daylight time, an experimental Burdette RV-3, N455DB, nosed over during the landing roll at Bountiful Skypark, Bountiful, Utah. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Tooele, Utah, about 15 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who was attempting to do a full-stop three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped aircraft, the aircraft bounced back into the air after the initial touchdown. While it was in the air it started to drift toward the side of the runway. When the aircraft touched down a second time, it started to "fishtail." During the pilot's attempt to keep the aircraft tracking straight, it departed the left side of the runway, encountered a nearby earthen berm, and flipped over onto its back. According to the pilot, there was no evidence that there had been any problem with the rudder or tailwheel steering systems. On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated that he needed "more takeoff and landing practice." During an attempted full-stop three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped aircraft, the aircraft bounced back into the air after the initial touchdown. While it was in the air it started to drift toward the side of the runway. When the aircraft touched down a second time, it started to "fishtail." During the pilot's attempt to keep the aircraft tracking straight, it departed the left side of the runway, encountered a nearby earthen berm, and flipped over onto its back. There was no evidence that there had been any problem with the rudder or tailwheel steering systems. On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated that he needed "more takeoff and landing practice." Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12