At about 1230 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain. The private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Several witnesses stated that the airplane completed approaches to Runway 18 even though the windsock indicated stiff winds from the north/northwest. The accident airplane’s first two approaches resulted in go-arounds. As the airplane approached the runway a third time, it appeared to be “unusually fast.” It commenced a landing flare past the runway identification numbers, and “floated a long way” until it “forcefully” touched down nose-wheel-first, then porpoised several times.
