Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The private pilot's improper flare, and the certificated flight instructor's delayed decision to add power, which resulted in the subsequent hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 11, 1997, at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182N, N8970G, operated by the Congressional Flying Club, Inc., was substantially damaged during landing at the Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick, Maryland. The certificated flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight that originated at the Montgomery County Airpark, Gaithersburg, Maryland, about 1045. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The private pilot, flying from the right seat, and a certificated flight instructor (CFI), seated in the left seat, departed the Montgomery County Airpark, for the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK).
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the joint statement of the CFI and the private pilot stated:
"By prior agreement, the flying pilot (FP) assumed the pilot-in-command responsibilities. The FP requested a right seat check out as he flies safety pilot during instrument flights with others in his flying club...While demonstrating a short field landing, the FP flared quickly, attempting to land on the numbers. Late in the flare, the nose rose high. The stall horn was sounding and the non flying pilot (NFP) [the CFI] requested the addition of power. The aircraft stalled, bounced, and the FP added power, causing the aircraft to again become airborne. The NFP assumed control of the aircraft and landed. There was no directional control and the aircraft rolled onto the grass..."
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector conducted a telephone interview with the CFI on June 12, 1997. During the interview the CFI stated that he was the flight instructor and occupied the left seat. The CFI was giving dual instruction in the Congressional Flying Club's Cessna 182, for a 'right seat checkout' to the private pilot. The CFI asked the private pilot to perform a short field landing. The approach appeared to be "fine" until the last 20 feet, when the private pilot raised the nose "excessively" and the stall horn activated. The CFI directed the pilot to add power, and the airplane landed hard. Power was then applied, and the airplane became airborne again. The CFI then took control of the airplane, landed on runway 23, and the airplane veered off the runway.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC97LA113