GAA18CA080

Factual narrative

The director of aviation safety at the flight school reported that, the airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage after a hard landing. The airplane, four days prior to finding the damage, had been used by the accident pilot for a flight towards his commercial training. After completing the training flight, no discrepancies were declared. The flight data management (FDM) from the airplane showed that, the airplane landed flat on the runway, which resulted in subsequent bounces. The director of aviation safety at the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 3 knots. The pilot landed on runway 25R. The director of aviation safety at the flight school reported that the airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage after a hard landing. Four days before finding the damage, the airplane had been used by the accident pilot for a flight toward his commercial training. After completing the training flight, no discrepancies were declared. Data from the airplane's flight data management unit showed that the airplane landed flat on the runway, which resulted in subsequent bounces. The director of aviation safety of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 3 knots. The pilot landed on runway 25R. 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-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C