What happened
Ground witnesses observed that the pilot failed to flare during the final approach, resulting in a hard touchdown on the nose wheel. The aircraft porpoised twice along the runway surface. During the second bounce, the aircraft veered off the runway and moved toward a line of parked aircraft. In an attempt to recover control, the pilot added power; however, this action caused the aircraft to stall. The stalled aircraft impacted the ground and collided with three parked aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation relied on statements from ground witnesses who observed the landing sequence. Witnesses confirmed that the initial touchdown was hard and occurred on the nose wheel rather than the main gear. They also noted the subsequent porpoising motion and the pilot's attempt to add power during the second bounce. No mechanical pre-impact failures were reported by the witnesses.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's failure to flare, which led to a hard landing on the nose wheel. The subsequent decision to add power while the aircraft was porpoising and likely at a low airspeed resulted in a stall. This loss of lift caused the aircraft to drop and veer off the runway, leading to the collision with parked aircraft.
Safety message
Pilots should ensure proper flare technique during landing to avoid hard touchdowns on the nose gear. Additionally, pilots must be cautious when applying power during abnormal landing attitudes, as low airspeed conditions can lead to a stall if power is added prematurely or excessively.