Incident Overview
According to the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had not landed at the destination airport in several years. Although the airport featured a paved runway, the pilot preferred to land on grass rather than pavement. During his previous visit, he had successfully landed on the grassy area adjacent to the left side of the runway, and he decided to do so again. From the air, the grass appeared suitable, so he proceeded with the landing.
Landing and Outcome
Upon touchdown, the pilot realized that the grass had not been mowed and was over waist deep. The main landing gear caught the tall grass, causing the airplane to nosed over. As a result, the pilot sustained a fractured vertebra. The airport typically uses the mowed area to the right side of the runway for grass operations, but the pilot chose the left side, which was unmowed.