Accident Overview
A pilot conducted an approach to runway 24 in gusty crosswinds from the right. The airplane floated during the landing attempt, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the flaps remained set at 2/3. A witness observed the airplane in the go-around and reported that the left wing dropped, followed by the airplane descending into trees.
Pilot Information
The pilot had received a private pilot certificate one month prior to the accident. His total flight time was 75 hours. All of his flight training was completed in a Cessna 172, and he had accumulated 12 hours in the accident airplane, a Grumman American AA-5B.
Aircraft and Sequence
The accident airplane was a Grumman American AA-5B. The pilot performed an approach to runway 24 with gusty crosswinds from the right. After the airplane floated, he initiated a go-around but did not retract the flaps from the 2/3 setting. A witness saw the airplane on a go-around and noted that the left wing dropped, after which the airplane descended into the trees.