On March 22, 1997, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N9221T) was involved in an aviation accident near Southern Pines, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the training flight, which led to a hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a training flight, a student pilot's landing flare led to a loss of lift, causing the aircraft to drop onto the runway where the left main landing gear collapsed.
Accident Description
According to the flight instructor (CFI), a student pilot was flying the airplane when the accident occurred. The CFI stated that the approach was the last one for that flight and remained stable until the airplane passed the runway threshold. As the student initiated the landing flare, the instructor recalled that the airplane felt as if it had stopped flying. In an attempt to recover from this condition, the CFI applied additional engine power, but the effort was unsuccessful. The airplane then dropped approximately 15 feet onto the runway, causing the left main landing gear to collapse.
Examination
Following the accident, an examination of the airplane was conducted. No mechanical malfunction was found, and the CFI did not report any problems with the airplane prior to the event.