Carlisle, PA, USA
N4468X
PIPER PA-32
The pilot reported that while in the landing flare, about 5 to 7 ft above ground level, the airplane “suddenly dropped” to the ground and the airplane’s tail struck the runway. The pilot then taxied the airplane to parking uneventfully. During a subsequent inspection of the airplane, the pilot and a mechanic found that the airplane’s empennage had sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane’s empennage impacting the runway surface during landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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