Accident Details
A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting a touch-and-go landing when the incident occurred. According to the instructor, as the student began the flare, a wind gust caused the airplane to yaw to the left. Shortly after, the wind abruptly decreased, and the airplane landed hard with the nose low. The hard impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings as a result of the landing.
Weather Conditions
The flight instructor reported that the wind was variable at 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots at the time of the accident. Data from the airport's automated weather observation station, recorded approximately five minutes before the incident, indicated the wind was from 140 degrees at 6 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 21.
Instructor Comments
The flight instructor stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.