Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure by the pilot to maintain a proper descent rate during approach to landing. A factor was lack of experience in make, model, and type of aircraft.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was conducting an approach to a private airstrip. The aircraft established a high sink rate on final and landed short of the runway in a ditch. The pilot had less than one hour of experience in make, model, and type of aircraft.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 24, 1994, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N71245, sustained substantial damage when it landed short of the runway at a private airstrip near Byers, Colorado. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local personal flight and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he got into a high sink rate condition on short final. The aircraft landed short and collided with a drainage ditch. Weather at the time of the accident was clear with winds out of the north at 7 knots. The density altitude was 7,000 feet. From information provided by the pilot, this was his first flight in this type aircraft and he had accumulated less than one hour in make and model. -