On July 22, 1989, a Stinson 108-2 (registration N8061K) operated by William E. Rooks was involved in an aviation accident near Athol, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate execution of a go-around maneuver, which resulted in a stall at an altitude insufficient for recovery. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot practicing landings with an instructor on board initiated a go-around before rolling left into a low-altitude stall, leading to an accident during the event.
What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was participating in a fly-in event. Prior to the flight, it was clearly established that the owner and pilot would serve as the pilot-in-command, with an instructor on board solely for the purpose of practicing landings.
During the practice session, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. According to the surviving instructor, the aircraft suddenly rolled to the left immediately following this initiation. This roll led directly into a stall at an altitude that was too low to allow for recovery before impact.
The investigation
The investigation relied heavily on the account provided by the surviving instructor, as no other witnesses were available to corroborate the specific sequence of control inputs. No mechanical anomalies were reported or found that would suggest a failure in aircraft systems contributing to the roll or stall.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate execution of a go-around maneuver, which resulted in a stall at an altitude insufficient for recovery.