What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was on final approach to the runway. The student pilot in command allowed the airspeed to decay below safe limits. In an attempt to recover from the slow speed, the student added engine power. However, as the airplane descended and neared the ground, the student reduced the throttle and pulled back on the control yoke to raise the nose.
This combination of low airspeed and high angle of attack caused the aircraft to stall at approximately 10 feet above ground level (AGL). The impact with the ground was hard. Despite the critical nature of the situation, the flight instructor on board did not take corrective action to prevent the crash.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics leading up to the impact. It was determined that the stall was a direct result of the pilot's control inputs during the final phase of landing. The lack of intervention by the flight instructor contributed to the severity of the outcome, as timely correction might have prevented the hard landing or allowed for a go-around.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach. The subsequent stall at low altitude left insufficient time and height to recover before impact. The flight instructor's decision not to intervene was also cited as a contributing factor, highlighting the importance of active monitoring and readiness to take control during training flights.