On July 26, 1998, a Grumman AA-5B (registration N74637) operated by West End Flyers was involved in an aviation accident near Torrance, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the go-around, which resulted in a stall and hard landing, while operating in windy conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot attempted a go-around after wind pushed the aircraft off the runway during landing, resulting in a stall, hard landing, and collision with the ground.
What happened
The accident occurred under wind conditions reported from 270 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot initiated the landing sequence but noted that just before the flare, the winds appeared to push the aircraft off the runway centerline. Unable to correct the deviation, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around.
During the climb-out phase of the go-around, the aircraft stalled and subsequently landed hard. It exited the runway surface and became airborne again briefly before colliding with the ground. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position on runway 29R.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft prior to the accident. No further mechanical examination details are provided in the source text.
Findings
Wind conditions from 270 degrees at 15 knots affected the landing approach.
The aircraft stalled during the go-around maneuver.
The pilot was unable to correct the aircraft's position off the runway before initiating the go-around.
No mechanical malfunctions were reported prior to the accident.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during the go-around, which resulted in a stall and hard landing, while operating in windy conditions.
