Runway undershoot involving a Amateur Built Aircraft LONG-EZ, VH-RGL, Moorabbin, Aerodrome, VIC on 16 April 1996

The pilot reported that he made an unplanned diversion to Moorabbin due to unsuitable weather en route to his destination. His approach to runway 17 right was "on the low side" and late on the approach the airspeed decreased and the sink rate increased. He applied power but this did not arrest the sink rate. The aircraft touched down heavily in soft earth short of the commencement of the sealed runway. This caused the nose landing gear assembly to collapse and then the nose section forward of the first bulkhead broke off as the aircraft slid onto the sealed runway. The aircraft was stopped in the grass on the right side of the runway. The wind velocity reported by the tower at the time of the accident was from 200 deg at 15 to 20 kt.