N843KS

On October 27, 1997, at 1645 central standard time, a Beech 23, N843KS, operated by Kansas State University Salina, collided with the runway while practicing a simulated engine failure on takeoff at the Salina Municipal Airport, Salina, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 training flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The certified flight instructor (CFI), student pilot, and a passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The CFI reported that after takeoff at an altitude of about 100 feet above ground level (agl) he requested permission to perform a simulated engine failure from air traffic control. He then pulled the engine power back to idle. At this point, according to the CFI, the student pulled back on the control yoke which resulted an increased pitch attitude and decreased airspeed. The CFI reported the airplane began to sink at which time he took control and added power. He reported, "We hit the runway hard and bounced, becoming airborne again. At about 200 ft. AGL, I realized that I had lost stabilator effectiveness." The CFI then informed air traffic control of the situation and they cleared him to land on any runway. The CFI reported he chose Runway 30 and once lined up over the runway he shut the engine down and landed the airplane coming to a stop on the runway.

The CFI reported that the right main landing gear had sheared off the airplane when it struck the runway during the simulated emergency. He continued to report, "When the wheel came off it hit the right flap and the horizontal stabilator doing damage to both, which explains why I lost stabilator effectiveness."