What happened
According to the pilot's account, the incident occurred shortly after the aircraft touched down on the runway. Immediately following touchdown, the right wing of the aircraft rose unexpectedly. The pilot reported that the aircraft seemed to be pushed to the left during this event.
Before the pilot was able to regain full control of the aircraft, the left wing and the horizontal stabilizer made contact with the ground. The pilot later learned that a Boeing 767 had been performing landings in the area and may have generated wake vortices that affected the smaller aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation relied primarily on the pilot's narrative regarding the sequence of events. No mechanical failure was identified as the primary cause of the wing rise or lateral movement. The focus remained on the aerodynamic influence from the preceding heavy aircraft.
Findings
The primary finding was the interaction between the light aircraft and the wake turbulence generated by a Boeing 767. The pilot's observation that the right wing came up and the aircraft was pushed left is consistent with the effects of wake vortex encounter during the landing phase. The contact of the left wing and horizontal stabilizer with the ground occurred before control could be re-established.
Safety message
Pilots should remain vigilant for wake turbulence hazards, particularly when operating behind larger aircraft such as the Boeing 767. Even after touchdown, residual vortices can affect aircraft handling. Awareness of preceding traffic is critical for maintaining control during the landing roll.