In an email sent to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector by the pilot, he reported that he was unable to manipulate the fuel station pumps where he had landed, so he decided to fly to another airfield that was about 20 miles away.
He wrote that somehow he did not make the right turn and became “lost.”
After noticing that his fuel level was low, he decided to make an off-airport precautionary landing near Caledonia, Missouri.
The pilot reported that during the landing, the RV-12’s nose wheel caught “heavy grass” and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA091
This May 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Although not a picture perfect scenario. (He did lose his bearings) I think the pilot is to be commended for being proactive before the fact, and not reactive after his prop stops turning. Pucker factor a lot less of an issue at that point.