What happened
During the final approach to the airport, the pilot executed an instrument approach and transitioned to visual flight conditions approximately 650 feet above the ground. As the aircraft neared the runway, the pilot initially believed the plane was too high; however, shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered an excessive rate of descent. Despite the pilot's efforts to stabilize the descent, the left main landing gear made contact with the ground roughly 120 feet before reaching the runway threshold.
Data retrieved from the aircraft's non-volatile memory provided insights into the flight parameters immediately preceding the impact. During the 10 seconds leading up to the ground strike, the indicated airspeed fluctuated between 71 and 81 knots. The flight data also noted the presence of a tailwind, measured between 3 and 5 knots, during the approach phase.
Findings
Investigation of the aircraft's systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or system failure. The aircraft's stall speed in the landing configuration, with flaps extended at maximum gross weight, was recorded at 64 knots IAS. The pilot reported that the aircraft was functioning normally prior to the descent instability.