On September 1, 1996, a Beech 19 (registration N2009A) was involved in an aviation accident near Augusta, ME. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in at hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot practicing solo landings stalled the aircraft after flaring too high, resulting in a hard touchdown that collapsed the nose and left main landing gear and damaged the propeller.
Incident Summary
A student pilot who was practicing takeoffs and landings to build solo flight time experienced a hard landing after the aircraft stalled over the runway. The landing gear collapsed and the propeller was damaged during the touchdown.
Pilot's Account
The student pilot reported that the takeoff and pattern work seemed very good, and the final approach was on track with the glideslope appearing correct. He maintained an airspeed of about 60 to 65 knots over the runway numbers 35. However, he became slow and flared too high, causing the aircraft to stall over the runway and come down hard. The pilot noted that he should have performed a go-around instead of flaring so high off the ground.
Damage and Conditions
Upon touchdown, the nose and left main landing gear collapsed, and the propeller was damaged. The student reported that the wind was calm and there was no mechanical malfunction of the airplane. No other damage was noted in the report.