UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN: MESSED-UP GO-AROUND
One of the most trusted and sacred maneuvers of any pilot is the Go Around. They say you can always go around, and usually that is true. But can you always Go Around and live to tell about it?
Many GA fatal accidents occur as a result of a messed up go around. It’s one where the pilot actually stalls the plane during the process or leaves the runway environment during the process of trying to Go Around.
During the process of adding full power, the nose on most any plane will naturally want to rise. The retraction of flaps while the nose goes too high is often the recipe for disaster.
Being fully trained and ready for the Go Around is paramount.
SOLUTION:
This is one of the most important maneuvers to practice with your CFI. You should chair fly through your actions prior to even going to the plane. Think about when to push power in, how much to lower the nose. Are you going to re-trim? When do flaps start to be retracted? When do you talk on the radio and when do you flip all the switches for the after-takeoff checklist? Your CFI can help you rehearse this maneuver so that you are completely ready, and you do everything in the proper order. All planes are different concerning specifics, the point is that YOU are ready for the act of being required to Go Around by surprise at any time, without losing control of YOUR plane.
SAMPLE ACCIDENT REPORT:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's delayed decision to conduct a go around following an un-stabilized landing approach and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees near the end of the runway. NTSB Accident Number: ERA16FA169.