Primary finding
Probable cause
Directional control was not maintained. Factors to the accident were: inadequate remedial action and a stall not identified.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During a student solo flight, the pilot entered the pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. The pilot stated that he was a little high on final approach and the airplane floated when over the runway. The airplane's angle of attack increased and the pilot opted to go-around. When full power was added, the airplane drifted to the left and the left wing dropped, contacting the ground and a fence post. The airplane then semi-cartwheeled to a stop.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 17, 1995, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N3165B, collided with a fence post during a go-around attempt at the Afton Airport, Afton, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that this was the first touch-and-go of the flight. The pilot stated that he was a little high on final approach and that the airplane floated when over the runway. The pilot stated "I waited and for some reason the nose floated up more." The pilot did not think that he had sufficient runway remaining to land, and opted to add power to go-around. When the pilot added full power, the airplane drifted to the left and the left wing dropped, contacting the ground and a fence post. The airplane then semi-cartwheeled to a stop. -