Incident Overview
A certificated flight instructor was conducting a Title 14, CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot, who had accumulated 4 total flight hours, occupied the left front seat while the instructor sat in the right front seat. A second student was seated in the rear to observe the training.
The instructor planned for the student to fly over the runway in a landing configuration. The student established the airplane in a slow flight maneuver at 65 knots with the flaps extended, maintaining an altitude of about 5 to 10 feet above the runway.
Loss of Airspeed and Descent
The instructor reported that the airspeed rapidly decreased from 65 knots to 45 knots, and the airplane began to descend. She instructed the student to "go around," but when the descent rate was not arrested, she took control of the airplane. At that moment, the airplane was in a nose-low attitude with a right bank.
Instructor's Intervention and Wing Strike
The instructor ensured full power had been applied, raised the nose, and applied left rudder and left aileron. Despite these inputs, the airplane continued to descend, and the left wing struck the runway. After touchdown, the instructor regained control and taxied the airplane to parking.
Damage and Mechanical Assessment
The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing. The instructor stated that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction.