On May 1, 1983, a Cessna C-172N (registration N3413E) was involved in an aviation accident near Friday Harbor, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the go-around maneuver, which resulted in a crash landing with the airplane in a steep nose-down attitude. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Cessna aircraft crashed during an attempted go-around, resulting in the death of the pilot. The plane impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude with the left wing low.
What happened
The aircraft was engaged in an approach when the crew initiated a go-around maneuver. During this phase of flight, the airplane crashed near the airport environment. A passenger present on board reported that the aircraft was positioned extremely close to the right side of the runway just prior to the initiation of the go-around.
Upon impact, the N3413E struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude with the left wing low. Observations of the crash site indicated there was no discernable impact crater, suggesting the energy dissipation occurred differently than typical high-velocity impacts. The flap switch on the aircraft was found to be in the down mode, and the flaps were confirmed to be in the full down position, corresponding to a 40-degree deflection.
The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. No other occupants are reported as injured or killed in this specific account, though the pilot's status is definitive.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the go-around maneuver, which resulted in a crash landing with the airplane in a steep nose-down attitude.