On July 4, 2003, a Cessna 175 (registration N7256M) was involved in an aviation accident near Wessington Spri, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in striking a fence and subsequent loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane sustained substantial damage after striking a fence during an attempted go-around at a private airstrip, resulting in a post-impact fire that destroyed the aircraft.
What happened
The accident occurred during landing operations at a private airstrip. The pilot reported that the initial touchdown point was slightly beyond the desired target area. In response to this long landing, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. During the early stages of the climb-out, the aircraft's tires struck a fence located near the runway environment. Following this impact, the airplane entered adjacent brush. A fire broke out after the collision with the fence and subsequent ground contact. The force of the ground impact combined with the post-impact fire resulted in the total destruction of the airplane.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have hindered normal operation. The pilot confirmed that the aircraft systems functioned normally prior to the accident sequence. Weather conditions at the time were reported as a wind from 270 degrees at 6 knots, which did not present significant operational challenges.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the substantial damage sustained during the go-around phase. The sequence of events began with a long landing, which necessitated the decision to abort the approach. The subsequent strike against a fence during the initial climb prevented the aircraft from gaining altitude safely, leading to ground contact and fire.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in striking a fence and subsequent loss of control.