Accident Sequence
According to witnesses, the pilot made three attempts to land. During each attempt, he overshot his approach and executed a go-around without touching down. On the fourth attempt, he did touch down but appeared to be too fast, and the aircraft skipped and bounced. After passing halfway down the 4,100-foot runway, the aircraft began porpoising and the wings were rocking back and forth.
Shortly before reaching the end of the runway, the aircraft drifted off the right side, striking a runway light. Witnesses heard the engine RPM increase and watched the aircraft stagger off the ground until it disappeared behind a steep drop-off approximately 300 feet from the departure end of the runway.
Impact and Fire
The aircraft impacted at the bottom of a ravine, flipped over, and immediately caught fire.
Pilot Background
Ten days before the accident, the pilot received a 1.6-hour check-out in the aircraft. He did not fly again until the accident flight.