Piper PA28 N6412W accident near Winder, Georgia

Probable cause

The student pilot’s loss of airplane control, the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and the student's delay in relinquishing the flight controls, which resulted in the airplane striking a runway sign during a go-around.

NTSB analysis

During an instructional flight, the student pilot and flight instructor planned to stay in the traffic pattern to practice touch-and-go landings. During the third approach and just before the landing flare, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The instructor noticed that the student was cross controlling with the airplane's nose pointed right. He took over the controls and initiated a go-around, but the student did not immediately remove his feet from the rudder pedals, which made the instructor's control inputs "less effective." While still airborne, the airplane struck a runway sign. The instructor continued the go-around and landed without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The instructor reported that the flight controls were "free and correct" and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19CA289 for the full record.