CEN16LA246

Factual narrative

On July 5, 2016, about 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N6576H, collided with terrain near Wonder Lake, Illinois. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Flagship Phoenix Inc and operated by JB Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan.According to the flight instructor, he was instructing the student pilot on touch and go landings at Galt Field. He estimated the prevailing wind was out of the south-southwest at 8 to 12 knots. After two landing attempts on runway 27, the instructor directed his student to land on runway 18. While on final for the third landing to runway 18, another airplane announced their intensions to takeoff on runway 27. The 's approach path was getting low on final and the instructor prompted the student to add power. Then, the instructor coordinated with the other airplane to deconflict flight paths, and did not monitor the student's approach. When the instructor returned to instructing, the approach path was still too low and there was insufficient time for the instructor to intervene before the airplane landed short. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the left wing was substantially damaged. The instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. During an instructional flight, the student pilot was landing the airplane. As the flight instructor observed the student's approach, he noted that the approach path was too low, so he prompted the student to add more engine power. The instructor then diverted his attention to a radio call with another airplane and did not monitor the student's approach path. When the instructor realized that the approach path was too low to make the runway, there was insufficient time for him to intervene before the airplane landed short of the runway. The instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane before the accident Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Instructor/check pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other person-Instructor/check pilot - C