Accident Overview
A flight instructor was conducting a landing in a retractable landing gear airplane. During the final approach, there were no abnormal weather conditions reported, but as the airplane crossed the runway threshold, it encountered what the instructor described as "severe wind shear," which he believed to be a microburst. The airplane pitched up and rolled left. The instructor and student applied full power to initiate a go-around.
Go-Around and Impact
During the go-around maneuver, the instructor took control of the airplane. The landing gear remained extended, flaps were kept at the full landing setting, and the propeller was set to full forward. The instructor stated that the airplane "simply" did not have enough performance to climb. Subsequently, the airplane drifted left of the runway and impacted a gravel hill. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Mechanical Status
The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
The automated weather observation system located about 14 nautical miles from the accident airport reported that, around the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots, temperature 73°F, dew point 68°F, altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury, and cloud condition was few at 500 feet. The airplane was landing on runway 3. The pilot reported weather at the accident airport as wind light and variable not gusting, visibility 10 miles, and few clouds at 2,000 feet. The instructor reported the wind as calm to light and variable, visibility 10 miles, and few clouds at 5,000 feet.
Aircraft Configuration Considerations
The instructor noted that during the go-around, the airplane's configuration with full flaps for landing was not changed. The airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) under the Go Around (balked landing) section states that after establishing a climb, the flaps should be reduced to the takeoff setting.