Accident Details
The accident occurred during a simulated forced landing on runway 20. The runway's threshold had been relocated 600 feet toward the departure end due to an ongoing construction project. Both the first 600 feet of the existing runway surface and the new pavement were marked with yellow painted chevrons, indicating those portions were closed for landing, takeoff, and taxi.
Flight Crew Accounts
The pilot reported feeling that the airplane "was not going to make a landing on the existing runway and would probably touchdown on a section of the new part of the runway." He stated that he increased engine power to arrest the descent, but the airplane touched down on the new pavement.
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), while en route, his student monitored the automated surface observing system and noted that runway 20 had a 600-foot displaced threshold. Prior to the accident approach, the pilot performed two approaches, both of which were made to the closed section of runway 20. The CFI reported that on the accident approach, the airplane experienced a hard landing near the intersection of the new and existing pavement sections. He stated that he did not notice any construction barricades positioned at the end of runway 20.
Airport Observations
The airport manager reported that a runway construction barricade, originally positioned at the intersection of the existing pavement and new pavement sections, was damaged on the day of the accident. The broken portions of the barricade were distributed in a way consistent with an airplane hitting the barricade on landing approach.