What happened
On June 7, 2019, a Diamond DA20, registration N227TJ, was involved in an accident during a landing practice session at Terre Haute, Indiana. The flight was being conducted by a flight instructor and a student pilot for Indiana State University. The instructor was shadowing the flight controls while the student practiced crosswind landings.
During the approach to runway 05, the instructor advised the student to begin the landing flare closer to the runway to maintain crosswind correction. The student performed an early flare, causing the aircraft to balloon. This resulted in a nose-high, low-airspeed condition where the aircraft drifted to the left.
Upon recognizing the situation, the instructor called for a go-around and attempted to take control of the aircraft. However, the student maintained a very strong grip on the control stick, preventing the instructor from making significant control inputs. The aircraft subsequently landed and skidded off the left side of the runway, eventually impacting runway lights. There were no injuries resulting from the accident.
The investigation
The instructor reported that no mechanical failures or malfunctions occurred prior to the accident that would have prevented normal operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as VMC with a visibility of 10 statute miles. Approximately eight minutes after the event, the automated weather station recorded winds from 080 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 19 knots.