N8168U

On July 7, 1997, at 1205 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N8168U, overran runway 33 and collided with trees at the Ranchaero Airport, Chico, California, during a go-around attempt. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the solo cross-country instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. The time of departure from the Ranchero airport was 1110.

The student pilot reported that this was his fourth solo flight and was remaining in closed traffic to practice crosswind landings. On final, with 30 degrees of flaps, the student pilot elected to execute a practice go-around. He increased the power to full, and flaps were retracted to 10 degrees. The student pilot noted a poor rate of climb and low aircraft speed. He stated that with low aircraft performance he did not believe that the aircraft would safely clear the trees located at the runway's departure end. He then attempted to land and brake within the remaining length of the runway. The student pilot reported that the aircraft touched down hard at the departure end of the runway and that the nose wheel immediately struck a concrete curb that marked the end of the runway. The aircraft became airborne again and struck a tree. It landed on top of the fallen tree and rolled to a stop.

An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office, traveled to Chico on July 24, 1997, to inspect the airplane and interview the pilot. In the interview, the student pilot reported that he let the airplane go too far down the runway before attempting the go-around. The aircraft was inspected with no preexisting anomalies noted.

The accident was reported to the FAA and the Safety Board on July 17, 1997, at 1230.