Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing and the airplane’s subsequent failure to attain a climb rate during an attempted go-around in high-density altitude conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that after a local flight, during touchdown, the airplane veered to the left, and he applied full power to go around. He added that, the airplane became airborne, drifted to the left over brush, and then started to sink because the airplane "did not have enough airspeed to maintain flight." Subsequently, the airplane settled into the brush about 50 ft. left of the runway, where the left wing struck the ground and the airplane spun 180° to a stop.
The left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage.
The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
An automated weather observation station, about the time of the accident, 23 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 15 knots, temperature 100° F (38° C), dewpoint 41° F (5° C), and barometric setting of 30.15" Hg. The calculated density altitude was 8,352 ft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration density altitude Koch Chart, the airplane would had likely experienced a 72% decrease to the normal climb rate.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA517