What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Student had a hard landing while performing a short field landing. The aircraft then left the runway and struck a taxiway sign. A combination of the hard landing and the left main gear striking the taxiway sign caused substantial damage to the aircraft. Student admits responsibility, understanding he should have performed a go-around when he realized he was not going to make his intended touchdown point. Block 3 vs. blocks 36 & 37, dates are correct. A few days after this occurred, the school's maintenance personnel discovered substantial damage inside the fuselage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) STUDENT HAD A HARD LANDING WHILE PERFORMING A SHORT FIELD LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT THEN LEFT THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN. A COMBINATION OF THE HARD LANDING AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRIKING THE TAXIWAY SIGN CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. STUDENT ADMITS RESPONSIBILITY, UNDERSTANDING HE SHOULD HAVE PERFORMED A GO-AROUND WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE HIS INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. BLOCK 3 VS. BLOCKS 36 & 37, DATES ARE CORRECT. A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS OCCURRED, THE SCHOOL'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL DISCOVERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE INSIDE THE FUSELAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.