Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's abrupt raising of the flaps during the attempted go-around and the resulting stall.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land with the flaps in the full down position. The airplane 'shifted (yawed) slightly to the right' and he initiated a go-around. When the pilot raised the flaps abruptly to the full up position, the airplane stalled and impacted the terrain. Inspection of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact airframe or engine malfunction. The pilot operating handbook (POH) for the Piper PA-28R-201 does not list specific procedures for executing a go-around.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 12, 1995, at 0030 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 28R-201, operated by Hectic Air, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain during an attempted go-around in Wheeling, Illinois. The pilot sustained serious injury and the sole passenger reported minor injury. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated in Delavan, Wisconsin, with a planned destination of Wheeling, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. In his written statement the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 16 with the flaps in the full down position. The airplane "shifted (yawed) slightly to the right" and he initiated a go-around. The landing gear and flaps remained down. The airplane stalled and impacted the terrain. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who interviewed the pilot, the pilot reported that he raised the flaps abruptly to the full up position during the go-around. He heard the stall warning horn. The airplane descended and impacted the terrain. The FAA airworthiness inspector who examined the wreckage reported no evidence of preimpact airframe or engine malfunction. The pilot operating handbook (POH) for the Piper PA-28R-201 does not list specific procedures for executing a go-around. During a telephone interview on February 16, 1996, a representative of The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., reported that the "accepted procedure" was to apply maximum power, raise the flaps to the approach configuration, raise the landing gear when a positive rate of climb is established, establish best rate of climb airspeed, then raise the flaps. -