What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft on a private dirt strip located on his farm. He described the aircraft as relatively unfamiliar for this type of operation. During the initial approach, the pilot encountered a downdraft which necessitated a go-around maneuver.
On the second attempt to land, the airspeed of the aircraft began to slow significantly. The pilot applied full power in an effort to maintain altitude and airspeed. However, he noted that this application of power aggravated the situation rather than resolving it. The aircraft subsequently landed hard approximately 30 feet short of the dirt strip. Upon impact with a fence at the end of the runway, the aircraft nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's account of the events leading to the accident. Key factors identified included the downdraft encountered during the first approach and the loss of airspeed during the second attempt. The pilot's statement that full power application worsened the situation was noted as a critical detail in the sequence of events.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to the accident was the hard landing resulting from airspeed decay during the final approach phase. The downdraft on the first attempt likely contributed to the pilot's decision-making process and subsequent energy management errors on the second attempt. The unfamiliarity with the aircraft type may have played a role in the handling characteristics observed.
Safety message
Pilots operating unfamiliar aircraft types should exercise extreme caution, particularly when landing on unimproved surfaces such as dirt strips. Understanding the specific performance characteristics and power response of the aircraft is essential to avoid energy management errors during critical phases of flight.