What happened
The aircraft landed at Preston, Idaho, to refuel under challenging weather conditions. The wind was blowing from a crosswind direction with speeds between 15 and 20 knots, gusting up to 30 knots. Upon touchdown, a strong gust pushed the aircraft toward the right side of the runway. In response, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver while keeping the flaps fully extended.
As the climb progressed, the pilot reduced the flap setting. This action resulted in an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft struck the ground but bounced back into the air before colliding with overhead power lines. Following the impact, the aircraft rolled down an embankment. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was approximately 7,200 feet.
Findings
The investigation highlighted several critical factors contributing to the loss of control. The primary issue was the stall that occurred during the transition phase of the go-around. The decision to reduce flaps while still at a low airspeed and high angle of attack proved fatal. Additionally, the gusty crosswind conditions complicated the initial landing and subsequent climb-out.
The sequence of events demonstrates the danger of premature configuration changes during a go-around, particularly in high-density altitude environments where aircraft performance is already degraded. The collision with power lines indicates that the aircraft did not regain sufficient lift or control authority to clear obstacles.