DEN07LA049

Factual narrative

On January 12, 2007, approximately 1215 mountain standard time, a Beech A36, N8183E, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the right wing struck the ground during landing at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, flight instructor, and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight originated from Farmington, New Mexico, approximately 1050 mountain standard time. The following is based on the operator's accident report, statements the pilot gave to the operator, and FAA telephone notes taken during interviews with the pilots: The pilot had made three practice ILS approaches to runway 25. He then circled to land on runway 23 and elected to use 12 degrees of flaps and an approach speed of 85 knots. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, about 20 feet above the runway, the pilot thought he was too low and raised the nose. The instructor told him to put the nose down, and then he "gently" pushed the nose down. The pilot then reduced power. When the airplane was about 10 feet above the runway, the pilot pulled nose up again and the stall warning horn sounded. The instructor said a gust of wind lifted the left wing and the right wing struck the runway. The instructor took control and landed the airplane. The pilot-rated dual student and flight instructor were on final approach to land after a practice instrument approach. The dual student was flying, and, according to statements by the flight instructor and student, he initiated the landing flare too high above the runway and allowed the nose of the airplane to get too high. The instructor told him to lower the nose, and then assisted him in lowering it slightly. As the student continued the approach and reduced engine power, the airspeed deteriorated until the stall warning horn came on. Prior to touchdown, a gust of wind raised the left wing, and the right wing struck the runway. The flight instructor took control and landed the airplane. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report submitted by the instructor and the student, the section titled, Recommendation (How could this accident been prevented?), contained, in part, the following statement: "This mishap was primarily a function of the student flaring high…and running out of airspeed, causing a stall. The high flare was compounded by the gusty crosswind conditions and not taking timely, positive action to go around" Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12