Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over of the airplane.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that while descending on approach to the runway, he failed to arrest the airplane’s sink rate and descent. This resulted in an impact with terrain approximately 600ft prior to the start of the runway. He reported that the airplane touched down hard and immediately nosed over, resulting insubstantial damage to the engine mounts, empennage, and left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.