The pilot-in-command (PIC) in the back seat of the Champion 7ECA reported that the flight was conducted to familiarize the student pilot, in the front seat, with the private airstrip and surrounding obstacles in Athens, Texas.
The airplane touched down “a little” long and bounced. The student pilot aborted the landing and initiated a “max performance” climb.
The PIC reported that he had briefed the student pilot as to the obstacles around the departure end of the runway, but he was unable to actually see the obstacles from the rear seat during climb out.
The airplane’s left wing hit a tree that was left of the runway centerline. The right wing also hit a tree before the airplane hit the ground in a nose down attitude. The airplane sustained damage to the engine mount, fuselage and both wings.
Probable Cause: The rear seat pilot and the student pilot’s failure to see and avoid trees during initial climb following an aborted landing.
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This February 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Runway was at a private field in Athens. TEXAS.
Something is not quite right about this report. The runway at Athens, TN (MMI) is 6,450 feet long. Landing a “little long” does not create an issue. They must have landed toward the end of the runway.
Also, unless you are a CFI you have no business taking a student pilot up and letting them act in the capacity of PIC.
A student pilot is never PIC regardless of who is seated in the rear or front seat. The PIC is always the PIC unless the owner is the checking out the instructor. I have done that before. Should have never allowed for the plane to attempt the landing 3/4ths down the runway. At a 6k+’ runway the average pilot could have made 3 T. O’s and landings on the single pass. GO AROUND.
The report said the runway length is only 1,150 feet not 6,450 feet, so I can see how landing a “little long” can easily become “too long” especially as a student.