What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight involving a student pilot executing his first solo landing attempt. The pilot initiated a go-around procedure by adding power to abort the landing. Shortly after applying power, the aircraft experienced a significant loss of directional control, yawing approximately thirty degrees to the left. The airplane continued to fly at an extremely low altitude, remaining only a few inches above the ground surface.
As the aircraft drifted off the paved runway surface, it encountered rough and uneven terrain on the side of the runway. The landing gear struck a drainage ditch, followed by a rut in the soft ground. This impact caused the nose gear to collapse, resulting in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft had departed the active runway surface and crossed a drainage ditch before striking uneven ground. The physical evidence indicated that the loss of control coincided with the application of power during the go-around maneuver. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified as contributing factors to the directional instability.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's inability to maintain directional control while adding power for an aborted landing. The combination of low altitude, cross-control inputs, and uneven terrain exacerbated the situation. The student pilot lacked sufficient experience to manage the asymmetric thrust or yaw tendencies associated with the go-around on his first solo attempt.
Safety message
Student pilots should receive specific instruction on go-around procedures during solo training, particularly regarding directional control and power management at low altitudes. Practice in simulated emergency scenarios can help build the muscle memory required to maintain stability when transitioning from landing to climb configuration.