Incident Overview
During a night landing, the aircraft contacted the runway earlier than anticipated. The touchdown was hard, causing the airplane to bounce several times. During the bounces, the propeller blades struck the runway surface. The airplane eventually came to rest upright on the pavement.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was setting up for a flare when the airplane hit the runway hard. The impact initiated a series of bounces. After each bounce, the aircraft settled back onto the runway, striking the propeller blades on successive contacts. The aircraft remained upright and came to a stop on the runway.
Pilot's Explanation
The pilot reported that night conditions, the narrow runway width, and the upsloping terrain created a night optical illusion. This caused her to perceive the airplane as being higher than its actual altitude. Believing she was at a proper flare height, she initiated the flare, but the airplane was lower than expected, resulting in the hard touchdown.