Substantial Damage After Hard Landing in Wind Shear (N7618P)

What happened

The incident occurred during a short-field landing on runway 19. The instructor pilot reported encountering wind shear at an altitude of approximately 12 to 15 feet above ground level. She noted that several obstructions in the vicinity could create wind effects, despite the surface wind being from the northeast at five knots. The aircraft landed hard and sustained substantial damage.

Findings

The primary factor contributing to the accident was the encounter with wind shear during the final approach phase. The pilot's assessment of potential wind effects from nearby obstructions highlights the challenges of short-field operations in variable wind conditions.