NTSB Factual Report

On June 3, 2003, at 1235 eastern daylight time, an American Champion 7GCAA, N77GA, was substantially damaged while landing at the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), Frederick Maryland. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the CFI, the private pilot was executing his first landing in the airplane in an effort to obtain a tailwheel signoff. While approaching runway 23, a 2,220-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway, the airplane encountered a crosswind from the left. The CFI instructed the private pilot to correct for the crosswind by adding right rudder inputs, which he did throughout landing to touchdown.

After the airplane touched down, the private pilot began to over-control the airplane with the rudder. The CFI assumed the controls and added full power. The airplane climbed back into the air and the CFI tried to realign it with the runway centerline. The airplane descended back to the ground and touched down hard on the left main landing gear, shearing the landing gear assembly from the fuselage. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway, where the left wing dug into the ground. The airplane came to rest upright.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any abnormalities with the airplane flight controls, nor did the pilots report any. The inspector added that the runway was wet at the time of the accident.

The winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

The certified flight instructor's improper flare and his delayed remedial action. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control is a contributing factor.