Event CHI99LA187

Factual narrative

On June 17, 1999, at 1440 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N4531R, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground during a touch and go landing. The pilots were practicing a landing using the short field landing over a 50 foot obstacle technique. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Washington Municipal Airport, Washington, Iowa, en route to Iowa City Municipal Airport, Iowa City, Iowa, on a local training flight. The pilot reported the training flight was the second flight hour of the required three flight hours leading to Level VII of the Pilot Proficiency Award Program. The private pilot and instructor pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported they had practiced several touch and goes at the Washington Municipal Airport. He reported they returned to Iowa City Municipal Airport and completed two more touch and goes. The second approach was a "short field" landing over a 50 foot obstacle. The pilot reported that the flight instructor did not think the airplane would have cleared a 50 foot obstacle and probably would have run off the "short runway." Another touch and go was attempted. The pilot reported that as they flew the left downwind for runway 24, the flight instructor "mentioned an approach which involved a short field, soft field, dead stick over a 50 foot obstacle." The pilot reported that he repeated the landing instructions and attempted to land using the suggested technique. The pilot reported the flight instructor told him when to pull the power to idle and begin the glide. The pilot reported that he "realized I was too high, so [I] made an "S" turn to the south and then to the north, descending all the while." He reported that the airplane was north of runway 24 and at 50 feet agl when the stall warning horn sounded. He reported that he immediately applied full power and lowered the nose slightly. He reported the airplane impacted the soft ground beside the runway in a "pancake" fashion. Rescue personnel were required to get the pilots out of the airplane. The pilots were transported to a hospital for observation and minor injuries. The pilot reported the instructor pilot did not brief the landing technique prior to the flight, and the flight instructor did not demonstrate the maneuver in flight. The pilot reported that as they flew the left downwind for the touch and go on runway 24, the flight instructor 'mentioned an approach which involved a short field, soft field, dead stick over a 50 foot obstacle.' The pilot reported that he attempted to land using the suggested technique. The pilot reported the flight instructor told him when to pull the power to idle and begin the glide. The pilot reported, '... I realized I was too high, so [I] made an 'S' turn to the south and then to the north, descending all the while.' At 50 feet agl the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot applied full power and lowered the nose slightly, but the airplane impacted the soft ground beside the runway in a 'pancake' fashion. The pilot reported the instructor pilot did not brief the landing technique prior to the flight, and the flight instructor did not demonstrate the maneuver in flight. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12