Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to correct for torque/p factor when adding engine power for the go-around maneuver. The pilot's misjudged flare, delayed go-around, and lack of total experience were factors in the accident.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was practicing touch and go landings at a gravel airstrip that had snowberms along each side of the runway. During the ninth approach for landing, the pilot flared too high and ballooned upward. He added power to arrest the descent, then, decided to begin a go-around. The pilot added full power and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot then banked the airplane to the right and the right main landing gear struck the snowberm along the left side of the runway. The pilot had accrued 56 total flight hours with 4.3 hours as solo flight.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 29, 1995, about 1700 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 170A, N1364D, collided with a snow bank during a go-around at Goose Bay Airport, about 8 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, received substantial damage. The pilot, holder of a student pilot certificate and the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1527. The pilot reported that he was performing solo touch and go landings on runway 25. During the ninth landing approach, he flared too high and the airplane ballooned upward. The pilot added engine power to extend the landing touchdown. He then decided to go-around and added full power. The airplane veered to the left and collided with a snow bank along the left edge of the runway. The airplane received damage to the right landing gear and right wing. The pilot indicated that his total aeronautical experience consisted of 56 hours. He had accrued 40.3 hours in the accident aircraft make and model, with 4.3 hours as pilot-in-command (solo). -