At 1400 Pacific time, the Skyhawk collided with terrain during a go-around from the pilots private dirt strip and was substantially damaged. While attempting to land, the pilot lowered about 20 degrees of flap but noted that he was higher than normal on final appproach. After touching down in soft dirt about 700 feet down the runway, the pilot attempted a go-around by adding full power and leaving the flaps down. The pilot climbed to about 100 feet and turned left, but the airplane began to lose altitude. After completing a 180-degree turn and lowering the nose in an effort to regain airspeed, the airplane settled into brush and collided with terrain. The pilot later reported the temperature to be about 95 degrees Fahrenheit-he thought that high density altitude prevented the airplane from producing enough power to climb.
March 14, Thermal, Calif. / Cessna 172
At 1400 Pacific time, the Skyhawk collided with terrain during a go-around from the pilots private dirt strip and was substantially damaged. While attempting to land, the pilot lowered about 20 degrees of flap but noted that he was higher than normal on final appproach. After touching down in soft dirt about 700 feet down the runway, the pilot attempted a go-around by adding full power and leaving the flaps down. The pilot climbed to about 100 feet and turned left, but the airplane began to lose altitude. After completing a 180-degree turn and lowering the nose in an effort to regain airspeed, the airplane settled into brush and collided with terrain. The pilot later reported the temperatur...
Key Takeaways:
- A Skyhawk sustained substantial damage after colliding with terrain during a go-around from a private dirt strip.
- The pilot initiated the go-around after a high approach and touching down late in soft dirt, but the aircraft subsequently lost altitude during a turn.
- The pilot suspected high density altitude, caused by a 95°F temperature, prevented the airplane from producing enough power to climb effectively.
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