What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach and landing operation at an airport facility. During this phase of flight, the pilot inadvertently aligned the aircraft with Taxiway R instead of the assigned Runway 29L. This error persisted until the aircraft reached short final approach position.
At that point, air traffic control personnel in the tower identified the deviation and informed the pilot of the mistake. In response to this correction, the pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft to properly line up with Runway 29L. During this corrective maneuver, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently collided with the runway surface.
The investigation
The primary factor identified in the event was the pilot's initial navigation error. The pilot stated that he had mistakenly lined up for final approach on the taxiway rather than the designated runway as instructed by air traffic control. This misalignment required a last-minute correction that resulted in a loss of control.
Findings
The accident sequence began with a failure to follow ATC instructions regarding the active runway. The pilot's attempt to correct this error during the critical final approach phase led directly to the loss of control and subsequent collision. No mechanical failures or weather conditions were cited as contributing factors in the provided narrative.