Cessna 208 N80JF accident near Plant City, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare due to reduced visibility from a foggy windshield and his failure to use the airplane’s windshield defrost system, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose landing gear collapse.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was conducting skydiving operations and that the airplane was on final approach to the runway, about 80 ft above ground level and a "few feet before the threshold," when the airplane's windshield became "foggy" and he could not see the runway. He did not attempt to go around because the skydivers were in the area, and he did not want to hit them or trees surrounding the runway. Review of a witness video recording of the landing revealed that the airplane's nose landing gear contacted the runway first, followed by the main landing gear. The airplane bounced, and the nose landing gear impacted the runway again and then collapsed. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with a defrost system for the forward cabin windshield. However, the system was likely not being used at the time of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19TA211 for the full record.