The accident occurred during a transition training instructional flight. The pilot receiving instruction had not previously logged any flight experience in the Cirrus SR20.
He reported that on final approach to the airport in Pahokee, Florida, they entered a side slip to align with the runway. The airplane was stable approaching the threshold but once past the threshold it started to drift to the right of the centerline.
The pilot called for a go-around and controls were passed to the flight instructor.
The flight instructor stated that 20 to 30 feet above the runway the tail began to swing from left to right and he took control of the airplane. The airplane floated over the runway for a few seconds while he used the rudder to compensate for the unexpected gust of wind.
The flight instructor told investigators that the airplane became difficult to control before one wing contacted the runway.
The tail structure separated from the fuselage and the fuselage, engine mount, and both wings were substantially damaged. Both on board sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after encountering a wind gust during landing.
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This December 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.
CFIs need mentors and oversight no matter how much experience. Don’t we all?
Kind of sad to see GAN turning into an Instructor bashing venue. Not that people are necessarily wrong but not long ago many postings here were about less FAA oversight. Well, your wish came true. The 2 year, 200 hours rule is gone so now you have well trained CFIs. Enjoy.
flight training degrades because the industry requires new pilots to instruct. so we’re now at the point of instructors that are still basically students.
You are absolutely right!
Too many instructors teach the crab-and-kick method and never learn how to land in a crosswind.
Weak CFI’s all over as an aerobatics and EFATO CFI i was in USA NJ in the 1990’s.. Most in that area hated me because i was teaching “hard maneuvers” and they could not teach. You could be a CFI in USA, and still can without ever knowing or demonstrating any of the 4 kinds of EFATO i taught. NONE. Neither accelerated stalls, neither go arounds from flare, Like the accident above. All the above maneuvers were FAA regulations until Bill Clinton Liberal FAA deleted them in November 1998. I was the only CFI teaching them in north east, about 4 DPE’s told me. What a shame.. Still are the main cause of accidents those 6 above maneuvers via pilots doing them wrong and crash.
Ah, Engine Failure After Takeoff. Interesting, because takeoff is one word when used as a non-adjective but when used as a verb, it’s two words, as is, oh, never mind.
I like your style, Jay.
A bad pilot is surprised when the engine fails during takeoff, a good pilot is surprised when it doesn’t.
I think I would have hated you too, Jay – up until I learned and mastered the maneuvers. At that point, you become the best instructor ever. Luckily, I had an instructor who taught similarly to you.
Summary of NTSB interview with the left-seat CFI/PIC (John): “Daniel called for a go-around and they followed the go-around procedure and Daniel gave the airplane controls back to John.”
NTSB Question: “What are your go-around procedures?”
CFI Answer: “Add full power, 80-85 knots then flaps 50%, then continue the climb.”
So, apparently they did add full power.
Interesting comparison between the two pilots’ narratives. I’m suspicious of the “unexpected wind shear” excuse.
As far as “The flight instructor stated that the airplane became difficult to control”…here’s my theory:
At “20-30 feet above the runway”, the right-seat stud CFI struggled with maintaining directional control in their “side slip”. It is his first-ever Cirrus flight…and it’s from the right seat. That was just…silly.
Regardless…
They then flat-out fumbled their low-altitude “positive exchange of aircraft control” during the go-around. They either interfered with each other via their side-sticks & rudder pedals and were unknowingly fighting each other…or no one was flying it just long enough to lose control.
I hope I’m wrong in either scenario.
Can never really say without being in the cockpit, but reading this it does seem like the instructor was being macho. If a go around was called out at 20-30 feet then there should never have been a wing strike. I fly the sr20 and 20 feet is plenty of space. Seems like the instructor tried to land the plane instead.
Further evidence of having the theory but not the practical skills to put the knowledge into practice. From reported flight incidences it is clear that there needs to be a comprehensive review of the training of instructors. In this instance failure to instantly instigate an overshoot signifies an incompetent response by the instructor. The situation called for full power and overshoot.
I recommend using a CSIP (Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot) flight instructor for a Cirrus checkout.
Knocked the tail and the engine off? That took some interesting control inputs. No mention of the first required move, adding power. I suspect that the CFI thought he was going to exhibit his extraordinary pilot skills by saving the landing. Wrong lesson to teach.
Another candidate for the Flight Instructor’s Hall of Shame. These movies all have the same plot and the same outcome. Alleged experts performing no better than their novice students. Pitiful.
Regards/J
ANOTHER instructor accident. It reads like a comedy. The tail began to swing back and forth. PUT YOU FEET ON THE RUDDER PEDALS!
The airplane became difficult to control.
DON’T STALL!
The wing contacted the runway.
DON’T LET A STUDENT KILL YOU!
Do some of that pilot stuff Maverick!
Interesting dialog.
This is a big problem today in all flight schools, not teaching correct handling of cross-winds. Very sad so many planes have been damaged do to poor training technic.
Instructors ego is bigger than skill level!