What happened
The incident involved a student pilot conducting his first solo cross-country flight. During the approach phase for landing, observers noted that the aircraft was positioned higher than normal and traveling faster than appropriate for the runway environment.
Recognizing the unstable approach, the pilot announced over the UNICOM radio frequency that he was initiating a go-around procedure. Witnesses on the ground observed and heard the engine power increase as the pilot attempted to climb away from the runway. However, as the nose of the aircraft pitched up, the airplane entered a stall condition. The loss of lift caused the aircraft to roll to the left before impacting the ground.
The investigation
Investigation findings focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact. The primary mechanical and operational factors identified were the excessive airspeed and altitude on final approach, which necessitated the go-around maneuver. The subsequent stall occurred during the transition from descent to climb, indicating a failure to maintain adequate airspeed while applying power and pitching up.
Findings
The crash was directly attributed to the pilot's inability to recover from the stall during the go-around. Contributing factors included the initial high and fast approach profile and the subsequent aerodynamic stall resulting from improper pitch control during the climb attempt.