Aircraft Crash During Single-Engine Go-Around

Casualties unknown • Tifton, GA, US

An aircraft crashed into trees following an engine failure and a failed single-engine go-around procedure during a pre-purchase inspection flight.

What happened

The aircraft was being operated for the purpose of a pre-purchase inspection. During the flight, the right engine shut off and could not be restarted.

As the two pilots attempted a single-engine landing, the wind conditions shifted from a quartering headwind to a quartering tailwind. This shift caused the nose and the right wing to drop, resulting in the airspeed decreasing to VMC (minimum controllable airspeed).

In response to the loss of control, the crew initiated a single-engine go-around. However, contrary to the procedures outlined in the flight manual, the pilots did not retract the flaps and landing gear during this maneuver. Consequently, the aircraft was unable to climb over a tree located at the end of the runway departure area. The airplane struck the tree, rolled into the dead engine, and ultimately crashed into trees in a vertical, nose-down attitude.

The investigation

Following the accident, the right engine was examined and subsequently operated on a test stand.

Probable cause

The failure to retract the flaps and landing gear during a single-engine go-around, combined with a wind shift that reduced airspeed to minimum controllable levels, prevented the aircraft from clearing an obstacle.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1992-03-27 Piper PA-34-200 accident near Tifton, GA?

An aircraft crashed into trees following an engine failure and a failed single-engine go-around procedure during a pre-purchase inspection flight.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1992-03-27 involved a Piper PA-34-200, registration N16209, operated by Clinton Aircraft Leasing, at Tifton, GA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure to retract the flaps and landing gear during a single-engine go-around, combined with a wind shift that reduced airspeed to minimum controllable levels, prevented the aircraft from clearing an obstacle.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X14224. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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