The flight instructor reported that the student pilot approached the runway at the airport in Lawrenceville, Georgia, with too shallow of an angle. The student applied forward pressure on the yoke, and the Cessna 172’s nose pitched down.
The instructor recalled that the student’s pitch application was excessive, and he called for a transfer of the flight controls. However, the student remained on the controls, and the instructor had to overpower the student’s control inputs while the airplane was in a 45° nose-down attitude.
The airplane landed hard in a level attitude, and the nose landing gear collapsed.
A fire erupted in the cabin, and the instructor used the fire extinguisher to attempt to extinguish the fire. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway, and both occupants got out of the plane.
The fire consumed the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin and wings.
The instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper pitch application, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent fire. Contributing to the accident was the student’s failure to give over the flight controls to the flight instructor when instructed to do so.
NTSB Identification: GAA19CA020
This October 2018 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 heard that poking them in the eyes works, not that it ever happened to me 😉
Back in the day it was considered a prerequisite that a instructor should be able to knock their students out if necessary ! 😁
That student needs to be prevented from any further attempt to get certified.
He shouls’ve hit student on the nose,causing him to reach for his nose,never fails