Cessna 172M N61756 accident near Hendersonville, North Carolina

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted go-around in gusty tailwind conditions.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot stated that, during an attempted landing on runway 14, he “could not get the plane to settle on the ground.” About halfway down the runway, the airplane “ballooned,” and the student pilot elected to perform a go-around. He applied full engine power and decreased the flap setting in an attempt to gain altitude, but the airplane impacted power lines off the left side of the runway and came to rest on top of a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Reported wind at an airport 9 miles to the northwest of the accident location, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13CA170 for the full record.