Accident Overview
On February 26, 2009, at approximately 1400 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, registration N616FT, operated by Florida Institute of Technology, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Melbourne International Airport (MLB), Melbourne, Florida. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
Flight Details
According to the student pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice crosswind landings using the wing low attitude as described in the training program. This flight was intended to be the student pilot's last flight before his first solo. The CFI reported that the airplane was landed hard with a sideload. Post-flight inspection revealed a crack in the right wing's rear spar. The student pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions occurred during the flight.
Pilot Information
The CFI, age 25, held commercial and CFI certificates for airplane single-engine, multiengine, and instrument airplane. Her most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on May 22, 2008. According to documentation from the flight school dated December 2, 2010, she had 1,410 total flight hours, with 1,356 hours in single-engine airplanes and 1,068 hours as a flight instructor.
The student pilot, age 49, held a student pilot certificate. His most recent FAA third-class medical was issued on November 8, 2008. At the time of the accident, he had 33 total flight hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Weather Conditions
The 1353 recorded weather observation at MLB included winds from 100 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, temperature 29°C, dew point 9°C, and altimeter 30.27 inches of mercury. Surface observations around the accident time showed wind direction varying from 070 to 100 degrees, with wind speed at 10 knots for all recorded observations.
Subsequent Notification
The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the accident on November 18, 2010.