Commander Aircraft Co 114TC N114DP accident near Woodruff, Wisconsin

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the go-around.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he executed a crosswind landing, crossing the runway threshold at an indicated airspeed of 95 knots. The airplane’s main landing gear touched down at the 1,000 ft runway marker. During the landing roll, the pilot observed that the airspeed was increasing, and he realized the crosswind had shifted to a tailwind. He initiated a go-around because he believed that there was not enough useable runway to stop the airplane. The pilot stated that he attempted a soft-field performance takeoff during the go-around. However, the airplane was unable to climb out of ground effect and the airplane sank. The main landing gear impacted terrain beyond the runway surface and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 180 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 15 knots. The crosswind component was between 10.8 and 14.7 knots.

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA198 for the full record.