LAX01LA015

While on short final for landing at an airport situated on a mesa, the airplane got caught in an updraft/downdraft situation and landed hard. The airplane skidded off the runway through brush and came to rest back on the runway after striking a taxiway sign and taxiway and runway lights. During the approach, the pilot attempted to compensate for the winds by making a higher and faster approach than normal. He checked his airspeed on short final and when he looked back outside the airplane was descending. He unsuccessfully attempted to arrest the descent by adding full power.

On October 14, 2000, at 1315 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N4826Q, landed hard, veered off runway 3, struck a taxiway sign, and taxiway and runway lights at the Sedona, Arizona, airport. The airplane was operated by Air Desert Pacific, and rented by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California, at 1040. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight that was scheduled to terminate at the Sedona airport.

A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) interviewed the pilot. While attempting to land on runway 3, the airplane encountered an updraft and an immediate downdraft. The airplane veered off the runway and came to rest back on the runway after it struck a taxiway sign and taxiway lights. The nose gear was sheared off, and the left main landing gear went through the wing.

In the pilot's written statement to the Safety Board, he stated that he had landed at this airport 5 times before the accident. He was aware of possible wind shifts due to the terrain and airport geography. The airport sits on top of a mesa and the runway has an upslope from south to north. He stated that he planned his approach to be slightly high and fast to compensate for an unexpected wind change.

He stated that on short final, about 100 feet agl with two notches of flaps down selected, the approach appeared normal. He noted his airspeed at the time was 85 mph. When he looked back outside he saw that the airplane was descending at a much greater rate than just a moment before. He added full power and rechecked his airspeed, which was now at 60 mph. However, application of full power did not arrest the descent and the airplane landed hard. The airplane skidded through brush and back on the runway. The main landing gear was pushed through the wings and the nose landing gear separated from the nose.

The pilot stated that it only took a couple of seconds for the approach to change from a controlled stabilized approach to ". . . literally falling out of the sky . . . ." After the accident, he was standing on the runway and noted that the wind was gusting and variable, generally from a southerly direction, but that the wind was not steady in strength or direction. He believes that he was caught in an updraft.

According to the airport manager, after the airplane landed hard it struck the guidance sign for taxiway A8 and one taxiway and one runway light.