What happened
While performing the base leg for an approach into Wilson Bar Airstrip, the pilot reported encountering several moderate downdrafts. During the final approach, the aircraft maintained an airspeed between 65 and 70 miles per hour. As the aircraft reached short final, it encountered a severe downdraft near a 35-foot bank located between the river and the runway end.
In response to the downdraft, the pilot applied full power. While this prevented the aircraft from being driven into the river, it resulted in excessive airspeed. The aircraft subsequently landed long on the 1,500-foot runway, overran the end of the strip, and nosed over. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
The inspection of the aircraft revealed significant structural damage. The engine mount, firewall, and cowling were bent. Additionally, the vertical stabilizer and rudder sustained bending damage, while the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer were found to be bent and wrinkled.