Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that during the landing flare and touchdown, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that lifted the airplane upward. The airplane then bounced on the runway once and the pilot attempted to recover by adding engine power to abort the landing. The nose of the airplane subsequently pitched down and impacted the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the underside of airplane’s fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.