Background
After purchasing the aircraft, the previous owner was flown back to his home. The new owner and a certified flight instructor (CFI) then flew to Cullman, Alabama. On this flight, the new owner intended to become current and accomplish requirements for a biennial flight review, although he had previously owned a PA-24-250.
The Flight
At Cullman, they practiced landings and airwork. They then landed and refueled before flying to the owner's private strip to hangar the aircraft. After two approaches at the private strip, they elected to land.
The Accident
According to reports, the approach was good until the CFI suggested the owner "chop" the power to land. The aircraft then settled, touched down hard, and bounced. The CFI told the owner to go around. The owner initiated a go-around while the CFI operated the gear and flaps. The owner reported that the aircraft was too slow, was behind the power curve, and would not climb enough to clear a knoll beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft impacted the knoll and came to rest.
Aftermath
The owner suffered a fractured vertebra. The CFI reported that during the landing, the aircraft bounced when it contacted a small mound in the touchdown area of the private strip. On this flight, the owner was the pilot-in-command (PIC).