What happened
During a solo training flight, the student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings to practice approach and departure procedures. On one specific attempt, the pilot flared the aircraft too high above the runway surface before making contact with the ground. Rather than allowing the aircraft to settle back down for a full stop, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around maneuver prior to touchdown.
As power was added to execute this climb-out, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The airplane drifted laterally and touched down approximately 100 feet off the side of the runway. Upon leaving the paved surface, the aircraft struck a cattle fence located near the airfield boundary.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of control during the go-around. Key findings indicated that the pilot's decision to abort the landing while still airborne, combined with the application of power, resulted in an inability to maintain directional or lateral control. The aircraft's departure from the runway environment was directly linked to this loss of control.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the high flare during the approach and the subsequent loss of control during the go-around maneuver. The pilot's handling of the power application and pitch attitude during the critical phase of flight failed to maintain the necessary control authority, leading to the off-airport landing.