AN ACR DC9 FLC HAD A HARD LNDG WHEN THE CAPT DEPLOYED THE SPD BRAKES WHILE THE FO WAS IN THE LNDG FLARE. THE ACFT STRUCK THE RWY HARD WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

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ON NOV/XA/97 AT XA55 IN WILMINGTON; OH; MY FLT EXPERIENCED A HARD LNDG. THIS HARD LNDG WAS; IN MY OPINION; DUE TO THE FACT THAT DURING THE BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST; I FAILED TO ARM THE GND SPOILERS. ON SHORT FINAL; DURING MY VISUAL CHK OF THE COCKPIT; I NOTICED THAT THE GND SPOILERS HAD NOT BEEN ARMED. AS THE FO WAS REDUCING PWR TO IDLE; I REACHED DOWN AND INSTEAD OF ARMING THE SPOILERS I DEPLOYED THEM. THIS RESULTED IN A HARD LNDG WITH DAMAGE TO THE TAIL SECTION OF THE PLANE. THE TIME LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT INVOLVED ROUTINE FLT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A RWY CHANGE 15 MI FROM THE ARPT. INSIDE THE OM IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO CONTACT DAY APCH CTL TO ASK FOR A CHANGE TO TWR FREQ. THIS DAY APCH CTL CONTACT INTERRUPTED MY BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME; IN MY OPINION; THAT I FAILED TO ARM THE SPOILERS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 386791: IN THE FLARE AT ABOUT 20 FT WHEN THE CAPT REALIZED HE FORGOT THE SPOILERS; INSTEAD OF ARMING THEM HE DEPLOYED THEM AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW WE HIT THE GND VERY HARD. WE PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF THE RWY AND CONTINUE NORMAL OPS. THE CAPT RPTED THE HARD LNDG TO MAINT AND THEY FOUND MUCH DAMAGE. HE (THE CAPT) ADMITTED HIS MISTAKE AND APOLOGIZED AND MY COMPANY CONFIRMS THAT I AM NOT AT FAULT.