Accident Overview
The airplane collided with terrain short of the runway during a landing attempt at a private airstrip. The 1,100-foot-long runway has a 5- to 7-percent upgrade to the south.
Approach and Landing
The pilot was executing a left downwind approach for a short field landing and had selected 20 degrees of flaps. Just short of the runway, the airplane sank about 10 feet, and approximately one second later, it impacted a dirt bank located 2 feet short of the north edge of the runway.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that "more altitude on final, use of full flaps" could have prevented the accident.
Aircraft Information
The pilot's operating handbook for the airplane specifies a 40-degree flap setting for both short field and normal landings. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported prior to the mishap.