N5178YCessna 172R

On June 21, 2008, approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N5178Y, registered to and operated by Eastern Oklahoma State University and piloted by a private pilot under the supervision of a flight instructor, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Tishomingo Airpark (0F9), Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. The local flight originated at Eaker Field (DUA), Durant, Oklahoma. approximately 1200.

According to the accident report submitted by the flight instructor, the private pilot receiving instruction was making a short field landing approach. The approach was "a little high" to clear trees that surrounded the airport. The pilot deployed full flaps, reduced power to 1,500 rpm, and slowed the airplane to 60 knots. Before crossing the tree line near the approach end of the runway, the pilot reduced power to idle. As the airplane approached ground effect regime, they encountered "a small amount of turbulence associated with the wind flowing over the trees." Before the flight instructor could react, they encountered "another small pocket of turbulence" and the airplane stalled. The pilot applied full power, then the flight instructor took control. He leveled the airplane and transitioned to the flare. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear "with force," followed by the nose gear, and bounced. A post-flight inspection after the landing revealed no apparent damage, but later examination by the school's maintenance staff revealed the firewall was wrinkled.