No fatalities

23 May 2020: PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER — Midland, MI

Midland, MI, United States

On 23 May 2020, a PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER was involved in an aviation accident near Midland, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during an aborted landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot executing a go-around after two bounces on an asphalt runway reported the airplane failed to climb out of ground effect, causing a wheel to catch the grass and resulting in a ground loop. Substantial damage occurred to the fuselage and left wing.

Accident Summary

A pilot reported that during an attempted landing on an asphalt runway, the airplane "bounced twice." The pilot then decided to execute a go-around and applied full engine power. However, the airplane "did not lift out of ground effect," and a wheel "caught the grass," causing a ground loop. The pilot noted that the accident might have been prevented by leveling off to allow the airspeed to increase before attempting to climb. The pilot reported a variable wind at 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. No other details about the aircraft or occupants were provided in the source.

Contributing factors

Pilot