Event GAA18CA589

Factual narrative

The flight instructor in a retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, while demonstrating a touch and go landing to a pilot receiving instruction, he reduced the power, the airplane descended and landed "harder than standard." The pilot receiving instruction then assumed control of the airplane and conducted two additional landings without further incident. The flight instructor further reported that the pilot receiving instruction's landings were smoother than his. Postaccident examination by chief pilot revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, while demonstrating a touch-and-go landing to a pilot receiving instruction, he reduced the power, and the airplane then descended and landed hard. The pilot then assumed control of the airplane and conducted two additional landings without further incident. However, postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor also reported that the pilot's landings were smoother than his; therefore, the damage likely occurred during the instructor's landing. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Instructor/check pilot - C