Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point while landing in gusty wind conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The private pilot was attempting to land in gusty wind conditions in mountainous terrain. On short final approach, the airplane entered a rapid descent. The pilot attempted to go-around by applying full power. The airplane continued to descend and touched down short of the runway, after which the landing gear collapsed. The airplane traveled about 150 ft down the runway before coming to a stop resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage structure. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.