FARMINGTON, NM, USA
N8240U
Beech A36
To prepare the student pilot for his first solo flight, the flight instructor retarded the throttle on downwind to simulate a power failure. The instructor said the student flared the airplane high over the runway and added power to adjust the sink rate and banked left 'to return to the centerline.' The airplane landed hard on the left main gear and bounced. The flight instructor took control, aborted the landing, went around and landed uneventfully. Postaccident inspection revealed wingtip, aileron, and rear spar damage.
On February 3, 2000, approximately 0745 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, N8240U, registered to and operated by San Juan Pilot Training, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico. There were no injuries to the commercial certificated flight instructor and student pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Farmington at 0730. To prepare the student pilot for his first solo flight, the flight instructor retarded the throttle on downwind to simulate a power failure. The instructor said the student flared the airplane high over the runway and added power to adjust the sink rate and banked left "to return to the centerline." The airplane landed hard on the left main gear and bounced. The flight instructor took control, aborted the landing, went around and landed uneventfully. Postaccident inspection revealed wingtip, aileron, and rear spar damage.
The student pilot's excessive remedial action (banking to realign the airplane with the runway). Factors were the student pilot flaring the airplane prematurely and failing to maintain directional control, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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