Amateur-built COZY N149CZ accident near Monte Vista, Colorado

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing.

NTSB analysis

The certified flight instructor was giving instruction to a commercial rated pilot in a single-engine experimental airplane that the commercial pilot had never flown before. On the second landing, the commercial pilot failed to lower the nose wheel in a timely manner onto the ground and the airplane became airborne. The airplane veered to the right in a 20-degree bank before the instructor was able to take the controls and level the wings. The airplane touched down a second time and traveled off the runway in the dirt before the nose gear separated and the airplane struck a berm. The commercial pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA085 for the full record.