Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary GAA19CA543

Memphis, TN, USA

Aircraft #1

N21979

Cessna 150

Analysis

The student pilot reported that, during landing, she flared the airplane early and that it then skipped on the runway during touchdown. The airplane drifted right, and the flight instructor then took the flight controls, but the airplane continued right. The airplane then lifted off about midfield, spun, and came to rest in grass right of the runway. The flight instructor reported that he was a new instructor. He added that, while the student was landing, the approach was high and slow as the airplane crossed the threshold, that the student flared "very high," and that he attempted to instruct her on how to recover, but she unexpectedly "pitched [the airplane] up further." He took control of the airplane, applied full power, retracted the flaps, and attempted a go-around. He added that the airplane was struggling to stay airborne and that he was concerned that it might impact some construction cranes beyond the end of the runway, so he turned right, and the airplane impacted the ground right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual Information

The student pilot reported that, during landing, she flared early, and the airplane skipped during touchdown. The airplane drifted right, the flight instructor took the flight controls, but the airplane continued right. The airplane then lifted off about midfield, then "pancaked and spun" and came to rest in the grass to the right of the runway. The flight instructor reported that he was a new flight instructor. He added that, while the student pilot was landing, the approach was high and slow as the airplane crossed the threshold. He added that she flared "very high," he attempted to instruct her how to recover, but she unexpectedly "pitched up further." He took control of the airplane, applied full power, retracted flaps, and attempted a go around. The airplane was struggling to stay airborne and he was concerned the airplane might impact some construction cranes beyond the end of the runway, so he attempted to turn right. The airplane impacted the ground to the right of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. 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 the flight instructor's delayed remedial action during landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and impact with terrain.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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