Accident Details
According to the pilot, he had flown several approaches to runway 2 prior to the incident and noted floating during the flares. On this particular landing, he did not extend the flaps and flew the approach about five knots slower than usual. Just before touchdown, with a good descent rate, he rotated the aircraft but observed no change in the airplane's performance. The airplane landed hard, causing the left main tire to rupture. It veered off the runway, continued left, and ultimately collided with a ditch.
Pilot Comments
The airline transport rated pilot passenger stated to the pilot that it felt as if the airplane sank abruptly and may have encountered a wind shift. The pilot also noted that the aircraft was a later model than he had previously flown, and he had only one hour of total flight time in it. In retrospect, he believes he should have received flight instruction before attempting to fly the airplane.
Weather Conditions
The wind was reported from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots.