Incident Overview
During a short cross-country flight, the pilot intended to practice a short field landing at the destination airport. He touched down on the planned touchdown point near the front edge of a 413-foot-long displaced threshold. However, during the final approach, the airplane struck the approach lighting system at the 400-foot and 600-foot positions from the runway end.
Examination
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the lower surface of the fuselage, including both wing bulkheads. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Runway Characteristics
The runway featured a displaced threshold of 413 feet. The touchdown occurred near the front edge of this displaced threshold. The pilot stated that he did not take the height of the runway threshold lights into consideration during the approach.