NTSB Factual Report

The flight instructor said he was giving an end of course stage check to the private licensed student, who was taking a commercial pilot course. He said the flight was normal and upon returning to the airport, he requested to see a short field landing. The landing was in a nose high attitude and there was "only a slight bump” when the aircraft’s main wheels touched down. Two more landings were performed by the student, which completed the stage check. Four hours later the flight instructor took the same student out for another lesson. The airplane had not been flown during this 4-hour period. During the airplane’s preflight examination, he found a large crack in the left wing's surface immediately above the landing gear attachment point. The flight instructor stated that the student did not make any hard landings during the first flight of the day. The student stated that she did not remember anything unusual about the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action.