Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot misjudged distance and altitude during the approach. The downdraft was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The aircraft struck a tree and barbed wire fence during the approach. The pilot reported that he encountered a downdraft on short final. The aircraft touched down short of the runway, and the nose gear collapsed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 26, 1995, approximately 1900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N4298C, was substantially damaged during an inflight collision with a tree and barbed wire fence while on final approach to runway 13 at the Homedale airport, Homedale, Idaho. The private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Murphy, Idaho, about 1830. The pilot reported that while on short final to runway 13 he encountered a downdraft. The aircraft touched down short of the runway during which the nose gear collapsed (refer to CHART I, FAA Inspector's report and photographs). -