Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed. Factors include a pole off the departure end of the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After landing long and fast, the pilot elected to initiate a go- around. During the go-around, he allowed the airspeed to get too low, and the aircraft stalled/mushed into a pole that was off the departure end of the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 9, 1994, approximately 1625 Pacific standard time (PST), a Kelley Stits SA6B, N4696, collided with a pole, off the departure end of the runway, during an attempted go-around at Harvey Field, Snohomish, Washington. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, his passenger was not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed the same location about 25 minutes earlier, was in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the passenger, the pilot landed a little long and fast, allowed the aircraft to bounce, and then elected to initiate a go-around. While trying to climb over power lines just off the end of the runway, the pilot allowed his airspeed to get too low, and the aircraft stalled/mushed into a nearby pole. The pilot, who voluntarily surrendered his certificate to the FAA, failed to return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that was provided to him after the accident. -