Incident Overview
A Cessna R172-K was on approach to Flamenco Beach when the pilot reported encountering a downdraft approximately 15 feet over the runway. According to the pilot, the downdraft forced the aircraft down hard onto the runway surface.
Weather Investigation
A review of the available weather data did not reveal any gust or downdraft conditions in the area at the time of the accident.
Aircraft Examination
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the lower part of the engine firewall, which was buckled. Additionally, the area underneath the fuselage behind the firewall was also found to be buckled.
Summary of Findings
The aircraft experienced a hard landing resulting in structural damage. No further contributing factors were identified in the provided source.