Event GAA18CA406

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that he asked the commercial pilot rated student to simulate a power-off emergency landing with a 180º turn to the runway and directed her to "lower the gear when landing was assured." After initiating the power off approach, the student turned the airplane from the downwind leg onto the base leg of the traffic pattern and extended the landing gear. The sink rate increased, and she attempted to correct with full engine power, but the decent continued. The airplane landed short of the runway and struck a ground lighting system. She then initiated a go-around and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 080° at 8 knots. The airplane landed on runway 09. The flight instructor reported that he asked the pilot receiving instruction to simulate a power-off emergency landing with a 180º turn to the runway and directed her to "lower the gear when landing was assured." After initiating the power-off approach, the pilot receiving instruction turned the airplane from the downwind leg onto the base leg of the traffic pattern and extended the landing gear. The sink rate increased, and she attempted to correct with full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend. The airplane landed short of the runway and struck a ground lighting system. The pilot receiving instruction then initiated a go-around and landed without further incident.  The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.  The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 080° at 8 knots. The airplane landed on runway 09. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Student/instructed pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other person-Instructor/check pilot - F
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Runway/taxi/approach light-Contributed to outcome