What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was established on short final approach to the runway. The pilot in command allowed the airplane to drift left of the centerline during the descent. At an altitude of approximately 40 feet above the ground, the safety pilot seated in the right seat announced that he was assuming control of the aircraft. The pilot in command relinquished control to the safety pilot. Upon taking control, full power was applied in an attempt to execute a go-around maneuver. However, the airplane stalled and subsequently collided with the ground on the left side of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control during the final phase of flight. Examination of the circumstances revealed that the aircraft was permitted to drift off the centerline prior to the handover of control. The critical failure occurred when full power was applied without sufficient airspeed, resulting in a stall condition immediately before ground impact.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the pilot in command's failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway centerline and the subsequent aerodynamic stall during the go-around attempt. The transition of control at a low altitude left insufficient time and altitude to recover from the stall. Stall was the immediate cause of the collision with the terrain.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that aircraft are properly aligned with the runway centerline well before reaching decision altitude or any point where a go-around might be necessary. Handover of control at low altitudes requires careful coordination to maintain adequate airspeed and configuration for safe flight operations.