Vans RV-6A, N164N: Accident occurred October 12, 2016 in Garland, Sampson County, North Carolina

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items -  National Transportation Safety Board: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N164N

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Greensboro FSDO-39

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA028
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, October 12, 2016 in Garland, NC
Aircraft: NEWKIRK THOMAS RAY VANS RV 6, registration: N164N
Injuries: 2 Minor.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that during landing at his private grass runway, the airplane "skipped" during the initial landing touchdown. Subsequently, as the airplane settled back to the runway, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot further reported that the grass was "soft."

The vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that the nose gear failed during the landing. 

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) who spoke with the pilot postaccident, the pilot reported to him that the airplane bounced during the landing touchdown and when the airplane settled back to the runway, the nose gear had been damaged and further sunk into the grass runway. 

A photo provided by the FAA ASI showed an initial impact mark about 100 feet prior to the location where the airplane nosed over. It is likely that the nose gear was damaged during the initial touchdown.