What happened
The private pilot was operating a flight under visual flight rules, approaching an airport to land on runway 17. While on short final approach, the aircraft encountered significant wind shear accompanied by a strong downdraft. In response to the deteriorating flight conditions, the pilot applied additional power to maintain airspeed and altitude.
Despite the power adjustment, the horizontal stabilator of the airplane struck a barbed wire fence located near the runway environment. The impact caused the aircraft to land hard short of the runway threshold. At the time of the accident, wind conditions were reported from 200 degrees at 22 knots, with gusts reaching 29 knots.
Findings
The investigation identified several critical factors contributing to the outcome:
- Wind shear and downdraft significantly affected the aircraft's performance during the final phase of flight.
- The pilot's decision to continue the approach in deteriorating weather conditions played a role in the mishap.
- The presence of a barbed wire fence near the runway threshold presented an obstacle that was struck during the hard landing.
The combination of adverse weather and the resulting loss of control led to the hard landing short of the intended touchdown zone.