What happened
During an approach to Theodore, the pilot of a Fairchild SA226TC was executing a short field landing. To ensure safety, the pilot had planned for a normal approach profile speed, utilizing a safety margin above the published minimum control speed. The pilot's calculations, which accounted for the downslope of runway 17 and the use of full reverse thrust, suggested the landing distance required would be within the available runway length.
To manage the approach, the pilot selected the first row of runway lights as the aim point to maintain a 3-degree glide path. However, this selection caused the aircraft to descend below 50 feet before reaching the runway threshold. During the final stages of the approach, the aircraft encountered sink and a downdraft caused by local convective activity. This led to an early touchdown, causing the aircraft to strike a runway light and resulting in damage to the aircraft wing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the pilot's approach calculations and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The investigation noted that the approach was conducted at the end of a hot day with light winds. The analysis focused on the relationship between the chosen aim point, the aircraft's descent profile, and the impact of atmospheric conditions on the flight path.