N5816PMooney M20R · 1996

**This report was modified on July 29, 2013. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.**

On June 4, 2011, at 1030 central daylight time, a Mooney model M20R airplane, N5816P, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Lake in the Hills Airport (3CK), Lake in the Hills, Illinois. The pilot and his flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local instructional flight departed from Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (KJVL), Janesville, Wisconsin, at 1015.

The pilot reported that he was attempting a simulated forced landing when the accident occurred. The airplane bounced upon touchdown to which he responded by advancing engine power to initiate an aborted landing. He noted that he was unable to establish a climb as the airplane drifted left off the runway and down an embankment. He reported that after the bounced landing he relinquished control of the airplane to his flight instructor who was also unable to regain control of the airplane.

The flight instructor reported that the pilot had recently purchased the accident airplane and was receiving flight instruction to become more comfortable operating the airplane. At the completion of the instructional flight, he asked the pilot to demonstrate a simulated forced landing to runway 26. As the airplane crossed midfield while on the downwind leg to the runway, the pilot reduced engine power to idle and established best glide airspeed as he maneuvered from base to final approach. The flight instructor reported that, after crossing the runway threshold, the pilot began the landing flare above the region of ground effect and unintentionally induced an aerodynamic stall after he "abruptly and quickly" pulled the control yoke aft. The pilot increased engine power in response to the stalled condition, but the airplane landed hard on the main landing gear in a nose-high attitude. The nose wheel subsequently struck the runway resulting in a porpoising effect. The flight instructor noted it was the hardest landing he had ever experienced. The airplane began to veer to the left due to the high engine power setting, but the flight crew's combined application of full right rudder was not successful in regaining directional control. As they unsuccessfully attempted to rotate the airplane for an aborted landing, the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a grassy area before proceeding down an embankment into a construction site.

The fuselage, firewall, and both wings were substantially damaged during the event. A postaccident inspection did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

The nearest aviation weather observation station with recorded historical weather information was at DuPage Airport (KDPA), about 21.5 miles south of the accident site, which was equipped with an automated surface observing system (ASOS).

At 1052, the KDPA ASOS reported the following weather conditions: wind 260 degrees at 8 knots, gusting 14 knots; visibility 8 miles; sky clear; temperature 31 degrees Celsius; dew point 21 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.02 inches of mercury.