Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting a landing approach to runway 33 when crosswinds pushed the aircraft to the right side of the runway while airborne. In response, the pilot applied power and began retracting the flaps to execute a go-around. However, contrary to the procedure outlined in the airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), which specifies raising flaps in increments during a balked landing, the pilot retracted the flaps fully in a single motion.
Pilot and Witness Accounts
According to the student pilot, the immediate effect of the full flap retraction was a nose-down attitude, which resulted in the aircraft impacting the right side of runway 33. A flight instructor who witnessed the event reported observing the airplane in a nose-high attitude just before it descended to the ground.
Pilot Experience
The student pilot had accumulated approximately 24 hours of total flight experience at the time of the occurrence.
Aircraft Handling Notes
The airplane's POH includes a specific procedure for balked landings, emphasizing the importance of incremental flap retraction to maintain controlled flight.