NTSB Factual Report

On January 28, 2002, at 1339 central standard time, a Beech 23, N841KS, operated by Kansas State University, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight departed Salina Municipal Airport (SLN) at 1230 on a local flight. While practicing a short field landing on runway 35 (13,337 feet by 200 feet, asphalt), the airplane landed hard. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was filed with the university's aviation department's flight dispatch.

The CFI reported the following information:

"On short final the instructor saw the airspeed was 2 knots slow and commented that a Sundowner [Beech 23] is not the airplane to get slow in on final. The approach and flare appeared normal from the instructor's point of view. The land[ing] seemed like a firm landing, but not excessive. Then the airplane veered right and the prop began to strike the ground. The instructor realized the prop had stop[ped] so then pulled the mixture. The airplane skidded to a stop near the right edge of the runway."

The student pilot, who was training for his commercial license, reported, "During the touchdown phase I landed on the main gear followed by [the] nose gear. The right main broke upon landing followed by [the] nose gear. The prop struck the ground as well. The plane slid approx. 40 feet."

The student pilot reported the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction prior to the hard landing.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's improper flare and the CFI failed to take remedial action.