Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Richmond, Ky. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The accident happened during touch and go practice on a training flight.
According to the flight instructor, the approach was “stabilized” with an increase in engine power due to a strong headwind. The student pilot flared the airplane high, and it descended rapidly.
The CFI took control of the airplane and added full engine power, but the plane came down hard. The instructor continued with another takeoff and lap in the pattern. The student pilot made a full-stop landing and taxied back to the hangar.
The post-flight examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall incurred substantial damage.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student.
NTSB Identification: ERA12CA579
This August 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I read the entire NTSB accident report. One thing stands out-the instructor took over the controls from the student pilot in a high landing flare, added full power yet the airplane struck the runway hard, now under the instructor’s control-And then the instructor took off! Why? He had already “crashed” the airplane and should have completed the rollout and taxi to shutdown to assess the probable damage.
NTSB concludes probable cause-inadequate student supervision? That’s weak. The Instructor was flying the airplane to the accident AFTER the student’s improper flare, not the student.