The pilot reported that, during a discovery flight, he allowed the passenger to assume control of the Cessna 172 and guided her through various maneuvers.
The passenger remained in control until reaching short final of the landing at the airport in Prescott, Arizona.
The pilot noticed that the approach was slow and steep, prompting him to take control. He executed an early round-out maneuver and flare, but realized the airplane was too high and was responding poorly, leading him to initiate a go-around procedure.
Right before he could increase the power, the left wing experienced an aerodynamic stall and dropped, resulting in contact with the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his delayed decision to initiate a go-around.
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This June 2023 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.
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