What happened
On July 20, 2012, a Piper PA-11, registration N4844M, was involved in an accident near Neilsville, Wisconsin. After touching down on the runway, the pilot observed that the aircraft was not properly aligned with the runway centerline and initiated an aborted landing. During the maneuver, the aircraft turned left of the runway toward a cornfield. The pilot applied power and attempted to climb, but the airplane entered a stall and collided with the cornfield.
The accident resulted in no injuries to the pilot. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft's fuselage, engine mount, wing struts, and the left wing spar.
The investigation
The investigation reviewed the aircraft's condition and the pilot's actions. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures present prior to the accident that would have prevented normal operation. Weather conditions at the time were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 120 degrees at 3 knots.