Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after it struck a hidden berm during the intentional off-airport landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot made an intentional off-airport landing in an open grass field and shortly after touchdown the airplane struck a berm hidden by grass that caused the airplane to become airborne. The airplane then ballooned about 5-10 ft above the field before it landed hard on the nose landing gear. At that point the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both sets of wing struts, vertical stabilizer, elevator, and rudder. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.