Incident Summary
A flight instructor and a pilot under instruction were conducting a training flight in a recently purchased airplane. The flight instructor requested a short approach for a simulated engine failure landing. The tower controller initially denied a simulated emergency landing on runway 17 due to traffic but approved the request for runway 28.
Flight Sequence
The airplane approached runway 28 at a 45° angle. The instructor instructed the pilot to reduce power to idle and initiate the approach at 100 knots. The pilot recalled that by the time glide speed was established, the airplane was over the runway numbers. The instructor told the pilot to turn right, but the pilot felt it was too late to align with the runway heading. The airplane touched down hard on the left edge of runway 28, exited the left side, and collided with runway lights. The instructor then steered the airplane back onto the runway and brought it to a stop.
Instructor and Pilot Accounts
The flight instructor reported providing ground instruction on executing a power-off landing at least twice. During the approach, after the airplane turned to the right and intersected the runway at a 45° angle, the instructor reduced power, maintained glide speed, and told the pilot to start the turn. The pilot did not respond, and the airplane overshot the right turn point. The pilot applied hard right rudder, then immediately hard left rudder. The instructor took control, leveled the airplane, and applied full power. The airplane landed hard on the left edge of runway 28 and exited the runway. The instructor pulled the power off, but the pilot added full power. The instructor reduced power again, but the pilot again added full power. The instructor was able to steer and stop the airplane on the runway.
Surveillance Footage
FAA surveillance footage showed the airplane converging on runway 28 at about a 45° angle. As the airplane approached the runway numbers, the right wing dropped rapidly and the nose pitched up. Seconds later, the left wing dropped rapidly, and the airplane impacted the left side of the runway just before the aim point markings. The airplane exited the left side, collided with runway lighting, remained upright, returned to the runway surface, and stopped about mid-field.
Damage and Mechanical Status
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the elevator and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.