What happened
The pilot was cleared for a touch-and-go landing on runway 35. The aircraft touched down approximately at midfield. Recognizing that initiating a go-around would be ill-advised, the pilot applied the brakes and raised the flaps. As the aircraft approached a fence, the pilot executed a right ground loop in an attempt to avoid a collision. During this maneuver, the left wing struck the fence, and the propeller contacted the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the aborted landing. The pilot's decision to brake and raise flaps rather than continue with the go-around was documented. The resulting right ground loop led to structural contact with a nearby fence and the ground, causing damage to the left wing and propeller.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the incident were the pilot's decision to abort the touch-and-go landing by braking and raising flaps, which led to a loss of directional control. The resulting right ground loop caused the aircraft to collide with a fence and the ground. The left wing sustained damage from the fence impact, and the propeller was damaged upon contacting the ground.
Safety message
Pilots should carefully consider the feasibility of aborting a touch-and-go landing. Applying brakes and raising flaps during this phase can lead to loss of control and directional stability, potentially resulting in a ground loop or collision with obstacles.