Cessna 172 N737RR accident near Enid, Oklahoma

Probable cause

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a power-off approach and go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing, loss of directional control, and a runway excursion onto a field.

NTSB analysis

According to the flight instructor, during a training flight, he instructed the student pilot to perform a simulated power-off approach to a private turf airstrip. He briefed the student to execute a go-around upon reaching 100 ft above ground level. Upon reaching this altitude with the airplane configured with full flaps and the airspeed about 60 knots, the instructor told the student to go around. However, the airplane continued to descend, the airspeed decreased to about 45 knots, and the airplane veered left, at which point the instructor applied full power and raised the flaps, but the airplane "touched down firmly" about midfield off the left side of the runway and continued to veer left onto a field. The instructor visually inspected the airplane from his right seat and decided to take off to the south and return to the home airport. Once at the home airport, examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had sustained substantial damage.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20CA152 for the full record.