What happened
The pilot was conducting a series of practice maneuvers at an airport when the incident occurred. The flight phase involved repeated touch-and-go landings. On the fourth attempt, the aircraft bounced upon initial contact with the runway surface. In response to the bounce, the pilot reduced engine power in an effort to stabilize the airplane and prevent further bouncing.
As the pilot attempted to arrest the bounce and initiate a go-around, the nose of the aircraft pitched forward excessively. The loss of control resulted in the airplane leaving the paved surface. The aircraft came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to or during the event.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure or malfunction that would have hindered normal operation. The pilot's account indicated that the sequence of events was initiated by a bounce during landing, followed by an improper power reduction and pitch control input during the recovery attempt.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the pilot's decision to reduce engine power during a bounce rather than applying full power for a go-around. This action led to a loss of airspeed and control authority, resulting in the nose-down attitude and subsequent runway excursion.