Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that during the approach, he noticed the airplane was going to touchdown short of the runway. He attempted to correct the approach path by increasing engine power. The nose of the airplane pitched up, the pilot lost visual sight of the runway, and the airplane yawed to the left. The left wing struck the ground and then impacted a runway identifier sign. The airplane veered left, departed the runway, and came to rest upright in the adjacent grass, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.