What happened
The pilot reported that while on short final approach at an airspeed of 80 mph with flaps extended, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The aircraft descended rapidly and contacted the runway from an altitude of approximately 10 feet above ground level. The landing was being made on runway 13, and the pilot reported local winds from 180 degrees at 5 knots gusting to 10 knots.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the sudden loss of altitude during the final approach phase. The pilot's report indicated that the aircraft was maintaining a speed of 80 mph with flaps extended prior to the event. No mechanical failures or system malfunctions were identified in the available data.
Findings
The primary finding was the sudden loss of altitude during the final approach. The rapid descent and subsequent contact with the runway from a low altitude suggest a potential issue with airspeed control or wind conditions, although no specific cause was determined beyond the pilot's report.