A Bumpy Ride: Learning From an Unexpected Landing

Flying is often about the thrill of the skies, but even the best pilots can face unexpected challenges that remind us why safety is always the priority. On June 5, 2024, a training flight in a Diamond Aircraft DA20-C1 turned into a tense lesson about the unpredictability of flying in turbulent conditions.

Setting the Scene

It was supposed to be a routine instructional flight at a small private airstrip in Southampton Township, New Jersey. The aircraft, a Diamond DA20-C1, was flown by two experienced aviators: Bob McCabe, the flight instructor, and Stephan Amisano, a seasoned pilot receiving instruction. The plan? A simulated emergency engine-out maneuver to sharpen Amisano’s skills.

As they approached the runway, the wind was less than cooperative. Amisano later described the conditions as “howling out of the southeast” with unpredictable gusts. McCabe, guiding the training, cut the engine power to simulate an emergency landing. “Do you want me to demonstrate another attempt?” McCabe asked, and Amisano agreed.

The Approach

McCabe took over the controls, performing a low approach over the treetops near the runway. As they cleared the trees and reached about 30 to 50 feet above the ground, turbulence hit. McCabe’s focus was on maintaining airspeed, adjusting as the plane dipped and swayed with the wind. However, things took a sudden turn when the plane’s nose pitched down sharply, and the aircraft began sinking faster than anticipated.

McCabe applied full power to arrest the descent, but the wind had other plans. The aircraft drifted to the right of the runway, landing hard in the grass, where the nose gear collapsed. Fortunately, both pilots were unharmed, but the plane sustained significant damage, including broken engine mounts and a collapsed nose gear.

What Went Wrong?

The NTSB’s investigation pointed to the challenges of maintaining control in turbulent conditions during a simulated approach and go-around. The findings emphasized that the instructor struggled to manage the aircraft’s pitch and sink rate, leading to the hard landing. This wasn’t a case of mechanical failure; both pilots reported that the aircraft was mechanically sound, though the stall warning system had been inoperative for some time.

McCabe’s and Amisano’s accounts paint a vivid picture of the moments leading up to the mishap. McCabe was acutely aware of the shifting wind patterns, while Amisano recounted how the aircraft felt like it “just stopped flying” as it dropped suddenly. Both men agreed that the weather reports didn’t seem entirely accurate, with Amisano often relying on data from a local Air Force base instead of the airport’s own reports.

Lessons Learned

This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of staying ahead of the aircraft, especially in challenging weather conditions. It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security when simulating emergencies, but as this flight demonstrated, real-world conditions can add layers of complexity that are hard to anticipate.

McCabe’s decision to take control for the second approach highlights the importance of clear communication between instructor and student. Though both pilots were seasoned, the turbulence proved to be a formidable adversary. The incident serves as a reminder that even experienced pilots must respect the unpredictable nature of flying in adverse weather.

Moving Forward

Accidents like this underscore why the NTSB doesn’t assign blame but instead focuses on finding lessons to prevent future occurrences. The probable cause, as determined by the NTSB, was the flight instructor’s inability to maintain control during a low approach in turbulent conditions. It’s a humbling conclusion but one that serves the broader goal of aviation safety.

The takeaway? Even simulated scenarios can turn real, and the best way to prepare is through continuous learning, respect for the environment, and never underestimating the power of the wind.