Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot had departed the Provo airport for a flight to a cow pasture. During a flare to land at the cow pasture, the pilot stalled the aircraft about ten feet above the ground. Subsequently, the aircraft landed hard on the right main gear and was substantially damaged.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 24, 1996, about 1930 mountain daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N7127P, collided with terrain during an off airport landing in a pasture. The airplane, registered to the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that he was intending to land in a pasture when he stalled about ten feet above the ground and landed hard on the right main gear. -