Incident Overview
The airplane touched down and subsequently drifted right toward the infield. The pilot initiated an aborted landing, but the airplane did not climb. It departed the left side of the runway, the stall warning horn sounded, the airplane struck a fence, and then came to rest on a railroad bed.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that upon aborting the landing, he retracted the flaps completely from their fully deployed 30-degree position. He reported that the airplane reached a height of no more than 10 to 15 feet after applying full throttle.
Aircraft Performance
According to the airplane's Information Manual, flaps are to be retracted incrementally: to the 10-degree position until obstacles are cleared, and not fully retracted until the airplane reaches a safe altitude and 60 knots indicated airspeed. The FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge states: "The effect of torque increases in direct proportion to engine power, airspeed, and airplane attitude. If the power setting is high, the airspeed slow, and the angle of attack high, the effect of torque is greater. During takeoffs and climbs, when the effect of torque is most pronounced, the pilot must apply sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the left-turning tendency and maintain a straight takeoff path."