BE36 Flight Instructor reported contact with obstacle during final approach.

Date: 2022-09 · Aircraft: Bonanza 36 · Phase: approach

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|inflight-event-encounter-object|inflight-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control|inflight-event-encounter-cftt-cfit|inflight-event-encounter-unstabilized-approach

Synopsis

BE36 Flight Instructor reported contact with obstacle during final approach.

Narrative

While providing flight training to the companion of my flight client; we descended too low on approach to landing at ZZZ. I was providing instruction to help the companion understand an emergency approach to landing if her companion pilot became incapacitated and she would need to land the aircraft. We began the VFR approach about 6 miles from the runway threshold at approximately 2500 ft. AGL. We established a power setting that yielded an indicated airspeed of 120 kts. and extended the landing gear to begin the descent. Everything was proceeding well on the long straight-in approach to Runway 15 at ZZZ. I pointed out to the companion how we could determine if we were going to reach the runway on this glide path or if we would land beyond the runway or if we would land short of the runway. As we got closer to the runway; I pointed out that our current glide path would result in a landing well beyond the runway; so we reduced the throttle (power) to increase descent rate to the runway. After a few moments; I pointed out that we were now too low on our glide path and would likely land short of the runway. I advised the companion that we would advance the throttle to add power to adjust the glide path and level off until landing was assured on the runway. When we advanced the throttle the engine hesitated for an instant before power was increased. In that instant of hesitation the aircraft impacted the top of a large bush just before the runway threshold. After this impact; we added power and began a climb back to pattern altitude. I assessed the condition of the airplane; found it to be airworthy; and decided to return to the aircraft's home base; ZZZ1.Upon landing; we inspected the airplane; and found a minor dent in the leading edge of the Right Wing as well as remnant foliage from the bush on the landing gear. There was no damage to the engine; propeller; or other parts of the airplane.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.