Accident Summary
During an approach to runway 22, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot initiated a go-around by turning off the carburetor heat, applying full throttle, retracting the flaps from 30° to 20°, and pushing forward on the yoke to increase airspeed. The airplane began to settle into ground effect. Noticing the terrain rising and recalling the noise abatement procedure that called for a right turn to 270°, the pilot turned right before establishing a climb. The airplane descended into rising terrain, struck trees, and impacted the ground, becoming engulfed in flames. The post-crash fire destroyed the airplane's fuselage.
Pilot Report
Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by reviewing the airplane's performance data and atmospheric conditions, especially density altitude and its effect on performance as per the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook. The pilot stated that in the future, he would place greater emphasis on performance planning as an essential activity during flight planning. The pilot also reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Meteorological Conditions
The METAR reported that the wind was variable at 4 knots and the temperature was 84° Fahrenheit. The field elevation was 5,504 feet, and the altimeter setting was 30.14 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 8,255 feet.