N581SD

The pilot under instruction, reported that he had recently purchased the airplane, and it was his third dual-instruction flight in the airplane. The flight instructor requested a short approach to accomplish a simulated engine failure approach and landing. The pilot asserted that ground instruction for the simulated engine failure was never accomplished

The instructor requested a simulated emergency landing on runway 17, which was denied by the tower controller due to traffic. The request was made for runway 28 and approved by the tower controller. The airplane intersected runway 28 at a 45° angle. The instructor told the pilot to reduce the power to idle and initiate the approach at 100 knots airspeed. The pilot recalled that by the time glide speed was established "we were on top of the numbers." The pilot under instruction was told to, "turn right" but he felt that it was too late to turn and align the airplane with the runway heading. The airplane touched down hard on the left edge of runway 28, exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lights, before the instructor steered the airplane back onto the runway and stopped.

The flight instructor reported that he "had given the student ground on how to execute a power-off landing at least twice." During the approach, the airplane turned to the right and intersected a 45° angle toward the runway, the engine power was reduced, the airspeed remained within glide speed parameters, and the instructor told the pilot to, "start your turn," but he did not respond., The airplane overshot the right turn point toward the runway. The pilot applied hard right rudder, and then immediately applied hard left rudder. The instructor took the controls and leveled the airplane, and then applied full power. The airplane landed hard on the left edge of runway 28, it exited the left side of the runway and the instructor pulled the power off. His hand was on top of the pilot's, who subsequently added full power. The instructor reduced the power, but again the pilot added full power. The instructor was able to steer that airplane and bring it to a stop on the runway.

Surveillance footage of the accident provided by the FAA, revealed that during approach, the airplane converged on about a 45° angle toward runway 28. When the airplane approached the runway numbers, the airplane's right wing dropped rapidly, and the nose pitched up. Seconds later, the left wing dropped rapidly, and the airplane impacted the left side of the runway, just prior to the runway aim point markings. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with runway lighting. The airplane remained upright and returned to the runway surface before coming to a stop about mid-field.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator, and the vertical stabilizer.

Both pilot's reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.