What happened
The pilot of a Piper PA-24 entered the traffic pattern and prepared for landing on Runway 3. During the approach, the pilot reported seeing no other aircraft via sight or radio. However, immediately before touchdown, the pilot observed a Piper J-3 positioned on the runway traveling in the opposite direction.
In response to this obstruction, the pilot initiated a right, climbing go-around. During this maneuver, the pilot identified a tower directly in the flight path and executed an immediate left turn. This sudden maneuver resulted in an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft to impact the ground near Mid Field. The pilot was not injured.
While the PA-24 pilot initially believed the Piper J-3 was back-taxiing for takeoff, investigators determined that the J-3 was actually in its landing rollout on Runway 22 at the time it was first observed. The pilot of the J-3, which is a high-wing aircraft and lacked radio equipment, did not observe the PA-24 until after the go-around maneuver had already been completed.