What happened
The accident occurred during the final phase of flight as the aircraft approached runway 17 for landing. According to the pilot's report, the primary issue stemmed from an improper flare technique during touchdown. The pilot stated that he did not initiate the flare maneuver early enough, which resulted in the airplane striking the runway surface with excessive force on all three wheels simultaneously.
This hard impact caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air. In an attempt to recover control and stabilize the descent, the pilot applied corrective inputs. However, the recovery was unsuccessful, and the airplane descended rapidly again. Upon the second contact with the runway, the nose section of the aircraft made contact with the pavement, indicating a loss of proper pitch attitude during the landing sequence.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction that could have contributed to the accident. The pilot confirmed that the airframe and powerplant were operating within normal parameters prior to the touchdown event. Environmental conditions at the time of the incident included variable winds at 6 knots, which were not considered a significant factor in the mishap.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates that the accident was caused by the pilot's failure to execute a proper flare during landing. The excessive descent rate and subsequent bounce prevented a safe recovery, leading to structural contact with the runway surface at the nose gear.