Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated he crossed over the destination airport, entered a left downwind for landing on runway 36, and extended the landing gear and “approach flaps.” He said he extended his flaps “further” on the base leg and flew a “stabilized” approach at 80 knots in “swirling…strong and gusty” winds. The pilot estimated touchdown was about 1,000 ft beyond the threshold of the 3,000-ft runway, and that braking action would not stop the airplane. The airplane continued off the departure end and down an embankment which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. He added that perhaps the wind may have “shifted to a tailwind” which pushed the airplane. A review of commercially available track data and video surveillance revealed that the airplane crossed the landing threshold at 108 knots groundspeed and floated approximately 2/3rds the length of the landing runway before it touched down at 71 knots groundspeed with about 1,000 ft. of paved surface remaining. The pilot reported the airplane had no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.