Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's delay in initiating an aborted landing and his failure to attain obstacle clearance.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot stated that he returned from the practice area and landed. '...on landing, the roll out became erratic, and decided to add power and take off again. Tried to clear the trees at the end of the runway. Hit the top of trees with propeller and fell to the ground.' postaccident examination by the FAA revealed no anomalies with the airplane. Additionally, the student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The student pilot had a total flight time of approximately 18 hours, of which 6 were solo.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 16, 1995, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N5744E, was substantially damaged, when it collided with trees during a go-around, at the Moorehead Airpark, North East, Pennsylvania. The student pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. There was no flight plan for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: Returning form practice area and landed. On landing, the rollout became erratic, and decided to add power and take off again. Tried to clear the trees at the end of the runway. Hit the tip of trees with propeller and fell to the ground. The pilot further stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. In a witness statement by the student's flight instructor, he stated, "...At the hospital [the student pilot] told me he decided to go-around, and by the time he did, [he] didn't have enough room to clear the trees." Postaccident examination by the FAA Inspector revealed no anomalies with the engine or airframe. Additionally, the flaps were found in the retracted position. The student pilot had a total flight time of approximately 18 hours, of which 6 consisted of solo flight time. -