Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and the nose landing gear collapsing. .
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he’d entered the traffic pattern on a left downwind as requested by air traffic control for runway 26R with a reported wind from 210° at 8 knots with gusts to 17 knots. As the airplane crossed of the runway numbers about 30 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a wind gust. The pilot applied left aileron to counter the wind gust and maintain runway centerline. Shortly thereafter, the wind gust dissipated, and the airplane abruptly dropped to the runway surface. The left main landing gear struck the runway, and the airplane bounced to the right. The airplane’s nose landing gear then impacted the runway and collapsed. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower forward fuselage and engine firewall, and the pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.