# NTSB CEN13LA094: Lsa America Allegro, N448SS, Adrian, MI, December 6, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2012, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Adrian, MI - Coordinates: 43.710979, -86.119781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7110&lon=-86.1198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85772 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85772/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85772 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA094 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lsa America ALLEGRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060008U), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lsa America ALLEGRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=060008U), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Lsa America ALLEGRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=060008U), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Lsa America ALLEGRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060008U), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Lsa America ALLEGRO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=060008U), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N448SS-2020-01-06), registration cancelled 2020-01-06, S/N 11-9001, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LSA AMERICA INC ALLEGRO - Registry model: [Lsa America ALLEGRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/lsa-america-allegro) (registry code 060008U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-9001 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 59; injuries: none; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20121206029099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121206029099A), Dec 6, 2012: Lsa America Inc ALLEGRO, Adrian, MI, Destroyed. The CFI and student were performing touch and go and they where on their second approach. The student was having difficulty aligning the aircraft with… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85772. 2.1 MB in all. - CFI's statement (item 1, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%27s%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Wreckage overview (FAA photo) (item 2, .PDF, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389023&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wreckage%20overview%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.