On September 22, 1990, a Cessna 152 (registration N24296) operated by Bluffton Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Wayne, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper execution of a go-around maneuver, specifically the failure to maintain adequate airspeed and proper pitch attitude during the transition, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot lost control during a go-around maneuver due to crosswind alignment issues and improper pitch control, resulting in a stall and runway impact.
What happened
The incident involved a student pilot operating an aircraft during final approach. The pilot reported feeling uncomfortable with the stability of the approach, citing difficulties in maintaining proper runway alignment caused by crosswind conditions. In response to these challenges, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around procedure.
During the execution of this maneuver, the pilot pushed the throttle forward to increase power. However, the pilot failed to lower the nose of the aircraft appropriately to maintain airspeed and attitude. Consequently, the aircraft entered a stall condition. The loss of lift caused the plane to drop directly onto the runway surface.
Probable cause
The pilot's improper execution of a go-around maneuver, specifically the failure to maintain adequate airspeed and proper pitch attitude during the transition, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.