What happened
The flight was operating under visual meteorological conditions that included active thunderstorms and rain showers moving toward the airport. During the final approach phase, the aircraft was approximately 200 feet from the runway threshold when it encountered a significant downdraft. In response to the sudden loss of altitude, the pilot applied full power to the engines. Despite this maximum thrust application, the descent could not be arrested. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground in a level attitude.
The investigation
The factual narrative indicates that the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude despite full power application during the final moments of the approach. The impact occurred with the aircraft in a level attitude, suggesting no significant pitch or bank angle at the moment of collision with the terrain.
Findings
Contributing factors included the thunderstorms and rain showers present in the area, which generated a downdraft affecting the aircraft's energy state. The pilot's application of full power was insufficient to counteract the sink rate caused by the weather phenomenon at that specific altitude and configuration.