Cessna T210L N8465L accident near Boise, Idaho

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath and stabilized approach, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot had been with the company about 2 weeks, and a pilot-rated passenger was on board the airplane to instruct the pilot on the use of the equipment associated with aerial survey work. The pilot had not previously flown this make/model airplane, so the passenger was also facilitating the pilot's understanding of the airplane and its individual characteristics. The pilot completed about 3 hours of survey work and then proceeded to the airport for an instrument landing system approach. The pilot reported that, as the airplane neared the decision height, he observed lights on the ground, which he believed were part of the airport environment, so he continued the approach. When he subsequently determined that the approach was unstable, it was too late to execute a missed approach, and he landed the airplane short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot and passenger safely exited the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13LA111 for the full record.