Primary finding
Probable cause
Was the undershoot of the runway threshold due to the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to compensate for the wind condition. A factor was the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
A high rate of descent developed while on short final for runway 18. The pilot added power but was unable to arrest the high rate of descent. The airplane touched down hard short of the landing threshold and collided with a fence. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, but failed to compensate for the crosswind condition. Control was lost and the right wing of the airplane impacted a tree on the right side or the runway. The pilot reported the wind from 150 degrees at 8 to 10 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 9, 1994, at 1019 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24- 250, N5632P, was destroyed while landing at the Canton-Hackney Airport, near Canton, Texas. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, while his passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot stated that a high rate of descent developed while on short final for Runway 18. Despite the addition of power to arrest the descent, the airplane touched down hard short of the runway threshold. The airplane took out three strands of wire and two obstruction lights on the barbed wire fence serving as airport perimeter fence. The pilot further reported that he attempted to abort the landing and managed to become airborne. While at an altitude of approximately 25 feet, the right wing collided with a dead tree on the right side of the airport. The pilot stated that the crosswind forced the airplane to drift towards the right side of the runway environment. On the enclosed pilot/operator report, the pilot reported the wind to be from 150 degrees at 8 to 10 knots. -