Incident Overview
A private pilot conducting a flight with the intention of completing two full-stop landings before returning to home base experienced a loss of control during a go-around. The airplane sustained substantial damage and came to rest inverted off the side of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine.
Approach and Maneuvering
The pilot entered the traffic pattern and announced his position as he maneuvered to final approach. He stated that the approach was stable but appeared to be short. To compensate, he added power and adjusted the pitch to reach the projected touchdown point beyond the displaced threshold.
As the airplane reached the displaced threshold, the stability of the approach was lost. The pilot suspected that a swirl of wind or updraft was encountered, causing the wing to raise more than expected based on previous landings at that airport. He attempted to regain the runway centerline and level the wings but was unsuccessful.
Loss of Control and Go-Around
Realizing the approach could not be salvaged, the pilot made a radio transmission announcing his intention to go around. He applied power and began to raise the flaps. His intention was to set the flaps to 20 degrees, but post-accident examination revealed that the flaps were fully retracted. Shortly after initiating the go-around, the airplane rolled to the left, contacted the ground, and came to rest inverted off the side of the runway.
Post-Accident Inspection
Inspection of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.