Incident Overview
A pilot was landing on a 3,100-foot dirt runway at an airport with mountains nearby. According to the pilot, just before touchdown, the aircraft encountered a downdraft at approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot stated that "the bottom fell out," leading to a hard landing. As a result, the right main landing gear failed.
Environmental Conditions
The airport did not have a weather reporting facility. At the time of the incident, the pilot reported light winds and an outside air temperature of approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The airport elevation is 5,192 feet.
Aircraft and Damage
The aircraft sustained damage due to the failure of the right main landing gear. No other details about the aircraft or damage were provided.
Remarks
The pilot attributed the hard landing to the sudden downdraft encountered on short final. No other contributing factors or causal links were identified in the report.