What happened
The pilot was conducting a practice touch-and-go maneuver on runway 29. At an altitude of approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL), positioned over the intersection of runways 29 and 22, the pilot reduced the engine power to idle. Following this action, the pilot attempted to transition the aircraft for a landing on runway 22 without engine power.
During the maneuver, the aircraft was unable to maintain adequate airspeed while executing the turn toward the new runway. Consequently, the aircraft entered a high sink rate and impacted the ground hard before reaching the threshold of runway 22.
The investigation
The pilot reported the sequence of events leading to the accident. The primary mechanical factor identified was the reduction of power during the maneuver, which left the aircraft without sufficient energy to complete the turn and land safely on the alternate runway.
Findings
- Failure to maintain airspeed during the turn after reducing power.
- Entry into a high sink rate due to insufficient lift and thrust.
- Hard landing prior to reaching the intended runway 22.