Cessna 172R N989BT accident near Leesville, Louisiana

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to properly re-configure the airplane for a go-around, which resulted in a runway excursion when he decided to land on the remaining runway.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot was returning from a solo cross-country flight. He stated that during the final approach to land, with the airplane configured with full flaps, he thought that the airplane was not descending as expected, the speed was higher than normal, and that he would land too far down the runway. The student pilot elected to execute a go-around and applied full power but did not retract the flaps. He stated that the airplane was not climbing and that he decided to land on the remaining runway because he didn't think he would clear the trees at the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the end of the runway, struck a ditch, and flipped over. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the vertical tail.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA526 for the full record.