On April 22, 1989, a Cessna 177 (registration N2969X) operated by Lee, H.t. was involved in an aviation accident near Brinkley, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot executing a go-around on runway 02 experienced slow climb rates after retracting flaps, leading to a controlled descent into an adjacent rice field.
What happened
The pilot was attempting to land on runway 02 when the decision was made to execute a go-around. At approximately 100 feet above the runway surface, the pilot noted that the airplane was climbing slowly, at a rate of about 100 feet per minute. During this phase of flight, the pilot retracted the flaps, which were extended to 30 degrees. Following the flap retraction, the airplane settled to the ground from an altitude of 150 feet and came to rest in an adjacent rice field.
The investigation
No further mechanical examination details are provided in the source text.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in a stall and subsequent impact with the ground.