According to the pilot of the tricycle landing gear equipped airplane, he was performing skydiving operations. He reported that he felt rushed in performing his assigned duties because, "the skydiving school kept wanting me to return quicker for the next load." The pilot recalled that after dropping the sky divers, he made his approach to land; the airplane ballooned during the flare, and landed hard on all three landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.