On 11 Sep 2012, a CESSNA 172R operated by KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SALINA was involved in an aviation accident near Salina, KS. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The flight instructor's improper flare in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a simulated engine-out landing practice, a flight instructor and student pilot experienced a hard landing, causing substantial firewall damage. The instructor reported flaring too high after a rapid descent from 200 feet.
Accident Details
A certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were conducting takeoff and landing practice on a 4,300-foot-long runway. After performing a stop-and-go, the CFI reduced the engine to idle to simulate an engine failure for the student. The airplane then descended rapidly from approximately 200 feet above ground level. The CFI initiated a flare, but the aircraft contacted the runway with excessive force.
Instructor's Account
The CFI stated that the wind was 10 degrees from the runway heading with gusts reaching 33 knots at the time of the accident. He attributed the hard landing to flaring too high following the rapid descent. No mechanical malfunctions were reported before or during the event.
Aircraft Damage
The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's firewall. No other damage details were provided in the source.