N3416E

On June 26, 2000, at 1820 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 172N, N3416E, operated by a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot, nosed over during an attempted go-around at the Mettetal Airport, Canton, Michigan. The landing and go-around were being made on runway 18 (2,305 feet by x 75 feet). Neither pilot was injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local training flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Mettetal Airport at 1810 edt.

The CFI stated the purpose of the flight was to practice landings and the accident occurred on the third one which was to have been a short field landing. The CFI stated the student was making the landing and when they reached the runway, the airplane began to float. He stated the student over corrected for the crosswind and once advised of this, the student took out some of the correction. He stated the airplane then began to balloon so he (CFI) added a little power and the student corrected for the ballooning. He stated the student then stopped correcting for the crosswind and the airplane was pushed to the left side of the runway. The CFI instructed the student to go around and the student hesitated. The CFI stated he took control of the airplane, added full power, and reduced the flap setting to 20 degrees. He stated, "I could not get the airspeed fast enough to obtain lift and we settle[d] to the ground in the grass on the left side of the runway."

The CFI stated that it had been raining for the previous 4 or 5 days and the terrain was wet. He stated the nose gear sank into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over.

The student pilot reported, "...to the best of my knowledge we attempted a go-around and the plane did not produce enough lift. Crosswinds pushed the plane off the runway slightly and after my instructor set the plane down softly the wet muddy ground caused the nosewheel to dig in and tumble."