Incident Overview
A flight instructor and a private pilot were conducting a landing when the incident occurred. As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the private pilot reduced the power. The flight instructor stated that he felt the airplane begin to sink more than he thought it should, and he told the pilot to add power. The instructor reported that he then tried to apply power himself but felt the pilot opposing his attempt to move the throttle.
Witness Account
A witness observed the approach and described the airplane as coming in "slow and too low." The witness stated that the airplane flared high and stalled about 20 feet above the ground. Just before the hard landing, the witness heard the power increase.
Instructor Experience
The flight instructor noted that he had never flown this type of airplane from the rear seat before this flight. He had acquired about 12 hours of experience in airplanes similar to the accident airplane. Additionally, he was unable to recall how long it had been since he last flew an airplane similar to the accident airplane.
Conclusion
The hard landing resulted from a stall during the flare after a low and slow approach, with a late power increase. The instructor's lack of recent experience in the type and position may have influenced the outcome.