What happened
During a night approach to Runway 23, which measures 2,999 feet in length and 100 feet in width, the aircraft encountered difficulties as it approached the landing zone. The terrain at the end of the approach slope descends toward the runway.
The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger both reported that the engine failed to respond when the throttle was applied. While the pilot acknowledged recognizing a short landing was imminent at approximately 250 feet above ground level, power was not applied to the engine until just before touchdown. The aircraft landed 45 feet short of the intended point, resulting in the landing gear being torn off. Following the separation of the gear, the aircraft came to rest on the runway. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
Investigators conducted tests on the engine while it remained attached to the airframe. These evaluations included various acceleration tests, and the engine was found to have responded satisfactorily during these procedures.