Incident Overview
On 23 September 1998 at 0545z, a Piper PA-34-200 aircraft (registration ZS-LRX) was conducting a training flight at Port Alfred Aerodrome. The instructor was in the final session of a multi-engine conversion with a student. The weather was reported to be fine. The aircraft had four occupants, and no injuries were sustained.
Flight Sequence
The crew had completed three normal full load approaches and two asymmetric approaches. The final landing was to be a glide approach, initiated at 3500 feet overhead the airport with the throttles set to zero thrust. As the aircraft approached the point where the student should have begun the flare, the instructor observed that the airspeed was approximately 5 mph below the target speed of 105 mph. The instructor noted that the student appeared aware of the low speed and reminded her of the low power setting. When the student did not increase power, the instructor attempted to cushion the landing by advancing the throttles and pulling back on the control column, but the action was too late.
Outcome
The aircraft landed heavily. The undercarriage collapsed, and the aircraft slid for approximately 200 meters on the runway before coming to rest.
Probable Cause
The student failed to maintain the correct airspeed and technique during the practised forced landing and the instructor did not timeously intervene.