Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Speed All Types; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
Final landing of the flight was to be made with [pilot receiving instruction] flying the aircraft; previous approach to same runway resulted in a go-around due to low airspeed; and high flare. During approach to the incident landing pilot was at a better altitude however slow on airspeed. Pilot touched down at the stall horn; and immediately pulled the control back over rotating; resulting in an audible scrapping sound with aircraft on the runway center line in a nose up attitude. During the entire approach my hands were in a defensive position; right hand open in my lap ready to catch the yoke coming back; left hand resting on my knee to catch the yoke going forward. Pilot's rotation was quicker than expected; resulting in the tail striking the ground before I was able to catch the yoke.I believe there is little I could have done to prevent this incident from occurring. A stabilized approach to landing should have been required; or go-around executed. At no time did I believe that the landing was unsafe; and being a training flight (last lesson before stage 1 check) I felt it necessary for the student to see how the resultant landing would be or make the decision on their own to execute a go-around.
C172 flight instructor reported a ground strike due to an unstabilized approach by the pilot flying.