What happened
The pilot departed West Bend, Wisconsin, on a cross-country flight bound for Waseca, Minnesota. Prior to departure, he received a weather briefing indicating ceilings of 2,500 to 3,000 feet or better until after crossing the Mississippi River. As the aircraft progressed, conditions worsened, and the pilot encountered moderate turbulence followed by mist that significantly reduced forward visibility.
Navigating through a valley with hilltops nearly obscured, the pilot decided to land in a harvested field. To avoid obstacles at the windward end of the field, he executed a downwind landing. After roundout, the aircraft continued to float beyond the available runway length. Realizing space was insufficient for a safe stop, the pilot initiated a go-around.
The investigation
During the go-around attempt, the pilot applied power and retracted the flaps from full down to full up. However, the aircraft demonstrated negligible ability to climb or accelerate. Unable to clear trees at the end of the field, the pilot elected to land in a nearby river.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this incident were the deteriorating weather conditions which obscured visibility and the subsequent decision to land in a confined area. The failure of the aircraft to gain altitude during the go-around was likely due to insufficient airspeed and energy management during the transition from a downwind landing.