What happened
During an approach to Charlottesville Airport, the pilot encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by rain showers, fog, and a low cloud ceiling. While attempting to navigate the approach, the pilot was unable to identify the runway. In response to the lack of visibility, the decision was made to execute a go-around procedure.
During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a loss of control, causing the nose to pitch downward. The aircraft type (unspecified) crashed a short distance, approximately several dozen yards, before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane, though the pilot sustained only slight injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the pilot failed to properly manage the aircraft's airspeed while attempting the go-around. Several contributing factors were noted during the analysis of the flight controls:
- The pilot did not maintain or achieve the necessary flying speed during the maneuver.
- There was improper use of the flight control inputs.
- The aircraft was found with incorrect trim settings, specifically involving full forward elevator trim and full left rudder trim.
- The loss of control was driven by a failure to maintain airspeed during the transition to a go-around.
- Environmental factors, including fog, rain, and low ceilings, significantly reduced visibility during the approach.