Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot under instruction misjudged his distance and altitude during a simulated forced landing, and the cfi failed to take timely action to prevent the accident as a result of his alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgement.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
At 6,700 ft msl, and over the airport, power was pulled back for a gliding spiral to the airport. On short final, the airplane was high and not aligned with the runway. During a slip the airplane hit a mound of dirt about 75 ft short of the runway. The cfi's application for a new medical certificate had been denied; he failed to report 'a driving while intoxicated' conviction on his application. A state trooper summoned to the accident site reported that as he spoke to the cfi he '...did still have a strong odor of some type of alcohol coming from his breath and his person.' the cfi's results of performing field sobriety tests indicated intoxication.
Source record
Factual narrative
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