What happened
The pilot experienced difficulty identifying the destination airport during the approach phase. Upon reaching the runway threshold, he touched down at a point more than halfway along the 3000-foot paved surface. Realizing that the remaining distance was insufficient to bring the aircraft to a safe stop, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver.
During the initial climb-out, the main landing gear struck a roadside curb adjacent to the runway. The impact caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch upward sharply and rotated the airframe to the left. Loss of control ensued as the aircraft descended rapidly. It struck the ground in a near-flat attitude on a creek bank nearby.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft had impacted a curb during the go-around attempt. The position of the wreckage and the nature of the damage indicated a loss of directional control immediately following the gear strike. No mechanical failures or pre-accident anomalies were identified that would have precluded normal operation.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's failure to properly locate the airport, resulting in a late touchdown. The decision to attempt a go-around from such a low altitude and airspeed over an obstacle led to the loss of control. The proximity of the curb to the runway edge played a critical role in the subsequent crash sequence.