What happened
During an approach to land on runway 24, an aircraft made contact with the runway surface. According to a witness, the airplane bounced approximately 15 feet into the air before experiencing a violent landing.
Weather conditions reported at an airport located roughly 45 miles south-southette of the accident site indicated winds from 330 degrees at 6 knots. A pilot who had landed 10 minutes prior to the accident reported wind directions between 300 and 310 degrees at 5 to 8 knots.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any engine or airframe malfunctions occurring prior to the impact. However, investigators found that the nose gear strut had been forced upward through the fuselage. The strut extended between 6 and 8 inches above the fuselage in the area near the windshield.