Accident Overview
On January 18, 2025, about 1210 Mountain standard time, a Cessna P210N, registration N4626K, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing near Prescott, Arizona. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot reported that after completing a local instructional flight, the tower controller cleared the airplane to enter the airport traffic pattern for runway 3R. While the airplane was about 200 ft above ground level (agl), the student pilot noticed an excessive rate of descent and increased the throttle setting. However, the engine power setting remained unchanged.
Pilot Actions
The student pilot informed the flight instructor about the lack of engine response. The flight instructor verified that the throttle was full forward, then switched the fuel selector valve from RIGHT to LEFT and set the mixture to full rich. The instructor then assumed control of the airplane and elected to execute a forced landing.
Forced Landing
About 50 ft agl, the flight instructor reduced the throttle to idle, moved the mixture to idle cut off, and turned the fuel selector valve to OFF. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and bounced multiple times before sliding off the side of an embankment, just short of a roadway. The right wing was substantially damaged.
Aftermath
The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. No other injuries or damage were reported.