N7FJJustice Frank K VANS RV-6A · 1997

The pilot reported that following a normal approach to landing, about 20 ft above the runway he encountered a “slight tail wind.” He reported that at this point, “I should have gone around” but he believed the landing was salvageable. Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard, and he maneuvered the airplane off the runway into grass where the airplane nosed over. The empennage and fuselage sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.