Pilot Injured in Landing Short Accident During Gusty Winds

Accident Overview

The pilot reported that he was executing a visual approach for a full-stop landing amid gusty wind conditions. During the final approach, the airplane experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The pilot realized he would land short of the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck terrain approximately 1,000 feet before the runway threshold. The impact caused substantial damage to the forward fuselage and the engine firewall. The pilot suffered a concussion and was unable to recall events after the loss of altitude.

Witness Account

A pilot-rated witness observed the airplane on a one-quarter mile final approach. He noticed the aircraft bank to the right between 45 and 60 degrees, followed by a left bank of about 20 degrees, with the nose elevated approximately 30 degrees. The airplane then appeared to stall and disappeared from his view.

Aircraft Condition

Both the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.