CEN13LA094

NTSB accident investigation · Lsa America Allegro · Adrian, MI · December 6, 2012

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 6, 2012, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
Place
Adrian, MI
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N448SSLsa America Allegro
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 30, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20121206029099A
Case key
85772

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper flight control input during a go-around and his interference with the flight instructor’s attempted remedial actions.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotLsa America ALLEGRO: 1 caseAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilotLsa America ALLEGRO: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

While on approach for a touch-and-go landing, the flight instructor directed the student pilot to go around when the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground. The student pilot added power, and the airplane began to roll and yaw to the left. The student applied the left rudder, and the instructor announced that he would take control of the airplane. The student pilot did not fully relinquish control of the airplane to the instructor, and the airplane impacted the ground. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure were reported by the instructor.

Factual narrative

On December 6, 2012, approximately 1715 eastern standard time, an LSA America Allegro airplane, N448SS, impacted terrain while attempting to perform a go-around at the Lenawee County Airport (KADG), Adrian, Michigan. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Sky Walker Flight School, Adrian, Michigan, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed KADG about 1700. According to a statement provided by the CFI, while practicing touch and go landings the student could not maintain alignment with the runway's centerline, so the CFI directed a go-around at 30 feet above the runway. When the student added power for the go-around he depressed the left rudder and the airplane rolled and yawed to the left. The CFI announced that he would control the airplane, but the student pilot did not relinquish control authority to the instructor. Prior to impact, the instructor was able to get control of the flight stick, but not the rudders. The airplane impacted terrain in a wings level, nose low attitude. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the CFI.

Aircraft

Registration
N448SS
Reported as
Lsa America Allegro
Category
Airplane
Serial number
11-9001
Engine
Rotax 912, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Sky Walker Flight School LLC
Registered owner
Sky Walker Flight School LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Special light-sport (Special)
Departed
KADG · Adrian, MI
Destination
KADG · Adrian, MI
Airport
KADG · Lenawee County, runway 23, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
52
Injuries
None
Certificates
Private, Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 29, 2011
Seat
Right
Flight hours
24,000 total · 50 in this make and model · 15,000 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot
Age
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Sport pilot
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
36 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
KADG

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.