Accident Overview
A flight instructor was providing instruction to a private pilot who had recently purchased a share in the airplane. The two had been practicing landings on runway 23 and had experienced wind gusts during previous landings. On the fifth practice landing, as the airplane descended, a gust of wind lifted the left wing and pushed it to the right. The private pilot attempted to correct, but the airplane bounced on all three landing gear and became airborne.
Loss of Control
The flight instructor instructed the private pilot to add power and go around. However, another gust of wind pushed the airplane further to the right, and the airplane was described as being "clearly in a loss of control state." The flight instructor took the controls, but the airplane was already in a full stall with full power and full flaps extended. The airplane then impacted the ground adjacent to the runway.
Witness Statements
The private pilot reported that upon touchdown, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right. The flight instructor yelled for full power and announced "my airplane." The wind continued to push the airplane further to the right, causing it to impact a ditch and spin around on the propeller.
Aircraft Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The left main landing gear strut was bent aft, which caused damage to the left wing spar fitting. Additionally, the underside of the fuselage aft of the firewall, the propeller, and the nose wheel were damaged.
Mechanical Status
The private pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported at the airport around the time of the accident included wind from 150° at 9 knots, visibility of 5 miles, haze, and clear skies.