On January 14, 1997, a Beech C23 (registration N2236L) was involved in an aviation accident near Lincolnton, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper decision to apply full power without raising the flaps following a bounced landing, which resulted in a stall and loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot bounced during a full-stop landing, applied full power without retracting flaps, causing a nose-up pitch, stall, and collision with the taxiway.
What happened
The accident occurred during a training flight involving a student pilot attempting a standard full-stop landing. The pilot configured the aircraft with full flaps for the approach and touchdown. Upon initial contact with the runway surface, the airplane bounced back into the air before settling down again.
Instead of executing a go-around or adjusting the configuration appropriately, the student pilot applied full throttle while the flaps remained in the extended position. This abrupt power application caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch upward sharply, reaching an angle of approximately 45 degrees. The high angle of attack resulted in an aerodynamic stall. As the airplane lost lift, the right wing dropped significantly, leading to a loss of control and subsequent collision with the adjacent taxiway.
The investigation
Post-acc examination of the aircraft revealed damage consistent with a hard landing and subsequent impact with ground infrastructure. The flight data indicated that the flaps were not retracted after the initial bounce, which contributed to the excessive nose-up pitching moment when full power was applied.
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper decision to apply full power without raising the flaps following a bounced landing, which resulted in a stall and loss of control.