Probable cause
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control during an attempted go-around.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that, during his landing approach, while about 3 feet above the ground, the airplane lost all lift and touched down hard. He said that the airplane bounced, and while airborne, he applied power to prevent a second hard landing, but the airplane rotated to the left. The airplane bounced a second time, and an air traffic controller told the pilot to go-around. The pilot applied full power, but he lost control, the airplane yawed further to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the nose and right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR11CA445 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 10, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- San Diego, California
- Nearest airport
- Gillespie Field Airport (SEE)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Aero Sp Z O O AT-4 LSA
- N-number
- N334RA
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.