N280FT

On August 07, 2005, about 1220 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N280FT, registered to M & A Aviation and operated by the Orlando Flight School, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, had a hard landing at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Kissimmee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot received no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated, earlier that day, about 1200.

The student pilot stated he was on final approach to runway 15 with 3 stages of flaps applied to the airplane and with an indicated airspeed of 65 knots. When the airplane was about ten feet above the runway, he felt turbulence and the left wing dropped toward the ground. He tried to correct with rudder and aileron. When the airplane leveled out it was about 90 degrees to the runway. He attempted to go around. He applied full engine power and retracted one stage of flaps. The airplane did not climb quickly enough and hit the ground. He stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

The winds at the time of the accident were from 360 degrees at 5 knots with no gusts.