BETHEL, ME, USA
N19735
CESSNA 172L
DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE CFI INITIATED A PRACTICE FORCED LANDING. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE STUDENT PILOT SELECTED 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND MADE '...CORRECT ACTIONS TO COUNTERACT A LEFT CROSSWIND...' WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY. THE CFI STATED: 'PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN OF THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL, WE EXPERIENCED A VERY STRONG GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT (ALMOST A 180 DEGREE SHEAR).' THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, ADDED POWER AND RAISED THE WING FLAPS FOR A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES LOCATED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
On November 22, 1994, at 1325 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N19735, operated as a dual instructional flight by Bethel Air Service, struck trees during an attempted go-around at Colonel Dyke Field in Bethel, Maine. The airplane received substantial damage. The Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) and student pilot, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The CFI reported that during the dual instructional flight, a practice forced landing was initiated over the airport and the airplane spiraled down for a landing on runway 32. According to the CFI, the student pilot selected 30 degrees of flaps and made "...correct actions to counteract a left crosswind of approximately 10 knots..." during the final approach to the runway. The CFI reported that "Prior to touchdown of the left main wheel, we experienced a very strong gust of wind from the right (almost 180 degree shear)." The CFI took control of the airplane, added power for a go-around and raised the wing flaps. The CFI reported he was unable to regain control of the airplane, and it continued in a left turn until it struck trees. Weather reports at the time of accident indicated the wind to be from a westerly direction at 14 knots gusting to 23 knots.
the flight instructor's failure to ensure adequate control of the airplane during a go-around. The gusty wind conditions were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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