Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper approach path during landing, which resulted in landing short of the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the owner of the agricultural application airplane, the commercial pilot was performing a simulated agricultural application flight with about 70 gallons of water in the hopper. After spraying water on the fields next to the private runway, during landing, the airplane touched down short of the runway. The main landing gear (MLG) struck a ditch, and the right MLG separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The owner added that, before the flight, the pilot had accumulated 0.3 hour of total flight experience in the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
According to the owner of the aerial application airplane, the commercial rated pilot was performing a simulated aerial application flight with about 70 gallons of water in the hopper. After spraying water on the fields next to the private runway, during landing, the pilot touched down short of the runway. The main landing gear struck a ditch and the right main landing gear separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The owner added that, prior to the accident flight, the pilot accumulated 0.3 hours of total flight time in the airplane.