Cessna 182Q N759AP accident near Lutz, Florida

Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot had hired the flight instructor to accompany her on a three-day cross-country trip where they made multiple stops in order for her to gain familiarity with operating the airplane outside of her home operating environment. At the conclusion of a short cross-country flight, the student pilot was manipulating the controls while under instruction. During the landing attempt, the student pilot flared too early at an excessive height above the runway. The flight instructor did not take control of the airplane and instead attempted to give verbal instruction to the student to recover, but the airplane’s sink rate increased as the airspeed decreased. The airplane subsequently landed hard and flat on all 3-landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Following the accident, the flight instructor stated that in hindsight he should have been more proactive and intervened earlier by conducting a go-around when the approach became unstable. The student pilot also stated that she was uncomfortable with the landings at an unfamiliar airport with 50 ft trees at the ends; she also thought that the flight instructor would be more hands-on during his instruction. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA203 for the full record.