20250617007589A

Pilot and on one passenger departed hbz to fly to 1XA7. The arrival airport has three grass runways. Runway 02/20 was closed for wet conditions due to recent rains, but runway 09/27 was open. Rwy 02/20 is listed as the longest of the three runways at 3292 ft (1003M), whereas 09/27 is the shortest at 2152 feet (656M). Pilot stated they considered a "practice approach" or go-around, but opted to land instead. Upon landing on ruway 27, aircraft was not slowing down as pilot had anticipated. Instead of performing a "go-around", pilot applied wheel brakes while still having control stick in neutral position rather than full aft. A full aft stick would have provided aerodynamic force down on the tailwheel, to help prevent what happened next. Upon brake application, aircraft nosed over at a relatively high speed, planting the propeller and nose cone into the soft wet grass and soil. Once the prop found its purchase into the soft ground, the aircraft was propelled tumbling, into the air. The vertical tail hit the ground inverted and tossed the aircraft to land with the nose resting on the ground and the aircraft upright. The sliding plexiglass canopy never impacted the surface, but the tail section was severed from the fuselage just forward of the horizontal surface. Forward travel of the aircraft stopped about 270 feet from the west end of the runway. Pilot and passenger were unharmed. Aircraft damage is substantial.