CESSNA 172P

USAFA, CO — June 27, 2009

Event Information

DateJune 27, 2009
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberCEN09CA459
Event ID20090723X51140
LocationUSAFA, CO
CountryUSA
Coordinates38.96972, -104.81277
AirportUSAF Academy Airfield
Highest InjuryMINR

Aircraft

MakeCESSNA
Model172P
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
None3
Total Injured1

Event Location

Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a safe flying airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall during the go-around.

Full Narrative

The airplane was landing at the destination airport in gusty wind conditions. The commercial pilot reported that wind was aligned predominately down the runway with gusts approximately 10 knots above the steady state winds. When in the flare to land, the airplane would not settle to the runway normally. The pilot held the landing attitude and waited for the airplane to touch down. When the airplane floated past the pilot's planned touchdown zone, the pilot initiated a go-around. When the pilot selected full throttle and set a pitch attitude for the climb out, the airplane's stall warning horn came on. The pilot lowered the pitch and retracted wing flaps from 40 degrees to approximately 20 degrees. The airplane stalled, and the left wing and propeller contacted the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest in an upright position. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the left wing near the wing tip was bent upward and the firewall was buckled.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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