Flight Details
On December 8, 2011, at 1645 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Shook Rans S-12 airplane, registered as N7138K, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees near Festus, Missouri. The airplane was operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The instructional flight was conducted under day visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Festus Memorial Airport (KFES) at 1615.
Accident Sequence
The student pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving instruction toward a sport-pilot license. Neither the student pilot nor the flight instructor had flown the airplane prior to the accident flight. The purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was too high on final approach to land on the first third of the runway, and he instructed the student pilot to perform a go-around while the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway. Shortly after, the student pilot applied maximum engine power, and the airplane entered a steep left climbing turn. The student pilot overcorrected, causing the airplane to enter a steep right turn. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was in an incipient aerodynamic stall/spin when he assumed control. The airplane collided with trees during the subsequent stall/spin recovery, resulting in substantial damage to both wings, the tailboom, and the empennage.
Mechanical Status
The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Weather Information
The nearest aviation weather observation station with recorded historical weather was at St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS), about 29 miles north-northeast of the accident site, equipped with an automated surface observing system (ASOS). At 1653, KCPS ASOS reported calm wind, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 4 degrees Celsius, dew point -4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.19 inches of mercury.