Accident Overview
A student pilot occupied the left seat of a newly purchased aircraft, while a private pilot sat in the right seat. The investigation was unable to determine who was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Sequence of Events
The pilots initiated a go-around after a hard landing. The hard landing sheared off the left main landing gear, broke the nose gear strut, and damaged the horizontal stabilizer. Witnesses reported that the climb rate and airspeed appeared very low, and the left horizontal stabilizer appeared bent downward.
During the crosswind and downwind legs, witnesses observed the airplane making abrupt pitch changes. The airplane never attained altitudes above 300 to 500 feet above ground level (AGL). While on a close-in downwind leg, the airplane struck an industrial building that is approximately 100 feet higher than the runway surface.
Pilot Information
The student pilot had just traded another airplane for the accident airplane. The private pilot was not the owner.
Damage
The hard landing caused the left main landing gear to shear off, the nose gear strut to break, and the horizontal stabilizer to be damaged. The airplane subsequently struck a building, resulting in additional damage.
Investigation Findings
The aircraft had just undergone an annual inspection and was signed off as unairworthy. The investigation was unable to determine which pilot was controlling the aircraft at the time of the accident.