N7571Q

On October 22, 1999, at approximately 2030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310R, N7571Q, damaged the right wing spar during landing at Columbus Metropolitan Airport in Columbus, Georgia. The instructional flight was conducted by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a military visual flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot, flight instructor, and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Maxwell, Alabama, at an undetermined time.

The private pilot and flight instructor were performing night touch and go landings. The flight was a final instruction flight before the private pilot was to take his commercial pilot multiengine land checkride. The flight instructor reported that five landings were executed without incident and the private pilot requested to perform a short field landing, in preparation for his checkride, for their sixth and final landing. During the landing, the airplane touched down hard on the right main gear. After the landing, the flight instructor took control of the airplane and taxied off the runway to the ramp.

Examination of the airplane revealed right wing spar, strut, and skin damage. Neither pilot reported any mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.