Cirrus Design Corp SR20 N580PU accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana

Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain airplane control during a crosswind landing in high gusting winds, and the flight instructor’s failure to maintain a proper airspeed and angle of attack during the go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s decision to conduct a flight in crosswind conditions that exceeded flight school limitations.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor reported that the private pilot receiving instruction performed the approach and crosswind landing. During the landing flare, the airplane suddenly and severely rolled to the left. He thought that he heard the left wing scrape the runway. The instructor took control of the airplane and simultaneously added full engine power and full right aileron to attempt a go-around. He stated that the full right aileron input did little to correct the airplane's attitude, and the wind continued to push the airplane to the left of the runway. As the airplane's airspeed increased, the instructor was able to level the wings and started to pitch the airplane up for the go-around. The instructor noted that he did not feel as if he had the airplane "under control" during the go-around. When the airplane was about 25-50 ft above the ground, it rolled right and pitched down to ground contact.

Examination of the airplane, flight control system, and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Damage to the left wing was consistent with runway contact.

The data recovered from the airplane's Recoverable Data Module (RDM) showed that, seconds before impact during the go-around, the airplane was banked 17° left and pitched 13° nose up at an airspeed of 55 knots. The pilot's operating handbook listed the airplane's aerodynamic stall speed as 59 knots when loaded to full gross weight with the most rearward center of gravity. The RDM data also indicated that the airplane's aerodynamic stall warning activated about 6 seconds before the impact.

At the time of the accident, there was an approximate 50° right crosswind at 20 knots with gusts to 26 knots; these conditions exceeded the flight school's established crosswind limitations.

Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot receiving instruction failed to maintain control of the airplane during the crosswind landing, which led to the left wing contacting the runway. When the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, he failed to attain appropriate airspeed and allowed the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack during the attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and incipient spin.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN17LA144 for the full record.