Accident Overview
A commercial pilot, who was a prospective airplane buyer, occupied the left seat and handled the flight controls during a local flight. A flight instructor (CFI) was seated in the right seat. On short final approach for the runway, the commercial pilot announced his intention to execute a go-around.
Go-Around and Loss of Control
When the commercial pilot initiated the go-around, he inadvertently placed the airplane in a steep nose-down attitude. The CFI reached for the flight control yoke and attempted to pull the nose up, but there was not enough altitude to recover. Both pilots estimated that the airplane impacted the ground at about a 30-degree nose-down attitude.
Aircraft Configuration
The airplane was configured with a single throw-over yoke, which was positioned to the left side of the cockpit.
Pilot Background
The commercial pilot was an ex-military pilot with very little time in light piston engine airplanes.
Circumstances
The event occurred during a local flight. The commercial pilot, who was being evaluated as a potential buyer, was manipulating the controls while the flight instructor supervised. As the airplane approached the runway on short final, the commercial pilot declared a go-around. In executing the go-around, the airplane pitched down steeply. The instructor intervened by grabbing the yoke and pulling back, but the altitude was too low to prevent ground contact. The pilots reported the impact attitude. The airplane's yoke was a single unit that could be moved to either side but was positioned left. The commercial pilot's experience was primarily in military aircraft, with limited time in light piston-engine airplanes.