Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While on final approach, the airplane was not descending as expected, so the pilot elected to perform a go-around. During the landing for the second approach, the pilot flared, and the airplane touched down and immediately made a loud noise. The airplane pitched down and skidded off the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed, one of the propeller blades separated, and the composite structure of the fuselage was wrinkled. Postaccident examination found no mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
While on final, the airplane was not losing altitude as expected so the pilot elected to perform a go-around. During the landing for the second approach, the pilot flared and the airplane touched down and immediately made a loud noise. The airplane pitched down and skidded off of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed and one blade of the propeller separated. Further examination revealed that the composite structure of the fuselage was wrinkled. The Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage and found no mechanical anomalies or failures that would have occurred prior to the accident.