Stall and bounce during landing results in nose gear collapse (N1316S)

What happened

Just prior to touchdown, the pilot reduced power and flared the airplane. The airplane stalled and bounced. When the airplane settled, the left main landing gear was off the edge of the runway. During the pilot's efforts to regain directional control, the nose gear contacted a berm at the edge of a road that crosses the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft following the incident. The nose gear was found to have collapsed during the event. No other mechanical failures were identified as contributing factors.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's decision to flare too high, leading to a stall and bounce. The subsequent loss of directional control resulted in the nose gear striking a berm. The stall during the landing phase was the critical event that led to the damage.