Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary GAA17CA437

Powell, WY, USA

Aircraft #1

N6470E

CESSNA 172

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during the landing flare about 20 ft above the runway, the student pilot "froze" at the flight controls. She added that she told the student pilot, "Add power – too high," but the student did not respond. The student pilot "hung on" to the flight controls, "forcing [the] instructor to push full power and physically [take the] airplane." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard, and the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual Information

The flight instructor reported that, during the landing flare about 20 ft. above the runway, the student pilot "froze" at the flight controls. She added that, she told the student pilot, "Add power – too high", but the student did not respond. The student pilot "hung on" to the flight controls, "forcing [the] instructor to push full power and physically [take the] airplane." Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to relinquish the flight controls, which resulted in a hard landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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