What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach to a private airstrip with a runway length of 1,700 feet composed of grass. The aircraft arrived high on the final approach path and touched down near the midpoint of the available strip. Recognizing that the remaining distance would be insufficient to bring the aircraft to a safe stop, the pilot decided to abort the landing and initiate a go-around.
During the climb-out phase of the go-around maneuver, the aircraft failed to clear the terrain at the end of the runway and struck trees located just beyond the paved or grass boundary. The airstrip is situated at an elevation of 6,700 feet above mean sea level. Environmental conditions contributed to reduced performance capabilities, with the density altitude calculated at approximately 8,800 feet.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and the physical evidence found at the site. Investigators examined the wreckage distribution and the point of impact with the trees. The high density altitude significantly degraded the aircraft's climb performance during a critical phase of flight where margin for error is minimal.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the accident. The initial high approach resulted in a landing further down the runway than optimal, leaving inadequate distance for stopping. The decision to continue the landing was overridden by the realization that a stop was impossible, prompting the go-around. However, the insufficient climb performance due to high density altitude prevented the aircraft from clearing the obstacles at the end of the runway.
Safety message
Pilots operating at high-elevation airports with short runways must carefully calculate performance data, including density altitude effects. Approaches should be stabilized and flown low to ensure touchdown occurs within the usable landing distance, preserving options for a go-around if necessary.