Amateur-built HIGHLANDER N716DW accident near Elko, Nevada

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain direction control during a go-around, which resulted in a ground loop.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he applied right aileron and rudder control inputs to control for a left drift during his approach to the runway. As he rotated the airplane into a three-point attitude prior to touchdown he noticed the airplane had a high rate of descent. The pilot added throttle and pulled back on the flight control stick; however, this did not arrest the descent rate. He subsequently advanced the throttle to full power for a go-around, but the airplane firmly touched down on the runway surface. The pilot struggled to enter a climb, which he attributed to having 40° of extended flaps at the time. When the airplane did begin to climb the pilot noticed that it had turned to the left and his right wing was in the air. He immediately reduced engine power and moved the flight control stick to the left to avoid a collision with a group of hangars. The airplane then ground looped to the left and side loaded the right main landing gear. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR25LA022 for the full record.