Cirrus SR22 N1216N accident near Lexington, Nebraska

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a go around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during approach to land will full flaps, he decided to perform a go around and applied full power. The airplane started turning left and he applied right rudder. The airplane was "low and slow" and was unable to gain altitude. The airplane continued to drift left then subsequently, landed hard in an adjacent field left of the runway.

The pilot further reported that, during the go around, he did not adjust the flap setting to the takeoff setting.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

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

The pilot added that he did not remember if the stall warning horn was going off, but believed that the airplane aerodynamically stalled before impact.

The pilot reported that the wind was from 040° at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 050° at 12 knots, 10 statute mile visibility, sky clear, temperature 23°C (73°F), dew point 7°C (45°F), altimeter 29.98" Hg. The airport field elevation was 2412 ft. The pilot was departing on runway 32.

The pilot operating handbook checklist titled "Balked Landing/Go-Around" stated in part:

1. Autopilot – DISENGAGE

2. Power Lever – FULL FORWARD

3. Flaps – 50%

4. Airspeed – 75-80 KIAS

After clear of obstacles:

1. Flaps – UP

The manufacturer published a performance chart titled "Balked Landing Rate of Climb." The calculated rate of climb with full flaps during the balked landing was about 1,168 ft per minute.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA570 for the full record.