What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Evaluation flight for a commercial pilot applicant power off 180S, on first attempt (ksfb 27R) pilot under instruction (pui) began to pitch up on short final to “stretch” the glide distance, the evaluating instructor sat and watched to see what the pui was going to do (continue or go around). Aircraft touched down low and at the beginning of the runway, causing the right horizontal stabilizer to strike one of the runway threshold lights sticking out of the ground. Based off level of damage to stabilizer, the event was classified as an accident.
As the FAA filed it
EVALUATION FLIGHT FOR A COMMERCIAL PILOT APPLICANT POWER OFF 180S, ON FIRST ATTEMPT (KSFB 27R) PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION (PUI) BEGAN TO PITCH UP ON SHORT FINAL TO “STRETCH” THE GLIDE DISTANCE, THE EVALUATING INSTRUCTOR SAT AND WATCHED TO SEE WHAT THE PUI WAS GOING TO DO (CONTINUE OR GO AROUND). AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN LOW AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RUNWAY, CAUSING THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TO STRIKE ONE OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD LIGHTS STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND. BASED OFF LEVEL OF DAMAGE TO STABILIZER, THE EVENT WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N455ER · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.