Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Weather
On approach to CLT on the visual 36R tracking the localizer and glideslope to the runway traffic spacing between arrivals was about 3 miles maybe 2.75. The first officer stated 'this tight spacing makes me nervous'. I responded 'it's more than adequate; just relax; if we have to go around we will.' On short final the First Officer stated 'the gusty winds scare me' I responded with the current wind readout on the MFD (I believe it was 320/11).'  Coming through 100 ft AGL the First Officer started to lose the centerline rapidly.  I stated 'centerline' loudly to alert him to the deviation.  He responded with 'I need help I need help I need help' he then abruptly released the controls. At this time we were approximately 75 ft AGL and lined up with the grass east of the runway; I assumed control of the aircraft and corrected for the centerline and landed the aircraft.  A go around was not executed because I was concerned about a balked landing occurring in the grass next to the runway and not on the runway.  The resulting landing was smooth and normal.The event occurred due to the inability of the First Officer to maintain positive control of the aircraft while landing in gusty conditions and his resulting behavior during which he released the controls without a positive exchange of controls.Once the event was identified I landed the aircraft and taxied to the gate normally.  We verbally debriefed the situation after the flight.Better training standards for landing in crosswinds; regardless of how strong the winds may be.
CRJ-900 Captain reported the flying First Officer released control of the aircraft without warning below 100 feet AGL on short final in gusty wind conditions.