Occurrence
A private pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) conducted a flight with the purpose of the private pilot receiving instruction from the CFI, who was seated in the rear. After departing, the pair flew to a nearby airport to perform touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings.
As the airplane approached the touchdown zone, the private pilot prematurely flared the aircraft. The CFI assumed control of the airplane and decreased the pitch attitude while simultaneously applying engine power. Despite these corrective actions, the airplane contacted the runway hard in a nose-high attitude.
Following the hard landing, the CFI opted to abort the landing and climbed to traffic pattern altitude to verify proper control input. The CFI then landed on the same runway without incident.
Damage and Mechanical Status
During the impact sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. Both pilots reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Comments
In the section titled "RECOMMENDATION" in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, form 6120.1/2, the pilots stated that the accident could have been prevented if they had flared closer to the runway.