Piper PA-28-180 N2195T accident near Clare, Michigan

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor the landing approach, his delayed corrective action and his failure to maintain directional control that resulted in the airplane's collision with a ditch adjacent to the runway. The student pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath contributed to the accident.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor reported that during landing approach the airplane was low, slow and drifting to the left of the runway. He took control of the airplane and attempted a go-around maneuver but the airplane settled into tall grass to the left of the runway. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. The student pilot reported that during the landing approach the flight instructor told him that the approach speed was too low. At that point, the flight instructor took control of the airplane and attempted a go-around but a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left side of the runway where it touched down and bounced. The airplane subsequently impacted the side of a ditch bank and came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage including a separated landing gear, firewall damage, and bending of the aft fuselage.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13CA474 for the full record.