CEN10CA347

Factual narrative

The student pilot was landing on a 3,500 feet long by 70 feet wide asphalt runway with a headwind of 15 knots with gusts to 22 knots. When the airplane was on short final approach at about 10 to 12 feet above the runway the student pilot said "she [the airplane] fell out of the sky... and bounced on all three wheels". He then applied full power and attempted a go-around. While still airborne, during the go-around attempt, the right wing of the airplane struck a tree approximately 125 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The impact with the tree sheared off the outboard three feet of the right wing and the airplane then struck level terrain and came to rest upright. There was a fuel spill, but no post-impact fire. The impacts caused substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, engine mounts, landing gear, and tail surfaces. The student pilot reported that he was not injured. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The student pilot was landing with a headwind of 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. When the airplane was on short final approach, at about 10 to 12 feet above the runway, the student pilot said that the airplane "fell out of the sky...and bounced on all three wheels." He then applied full power and attempted a go-around. While still airborne, the right wing of the airplane struck a tree approximately 125 feet to the left of the runway centerline. The impact with the tree sheared off the outboard three feet of the right wing and the airplane then struck level terrain and came to rest upright. There was a fuel spill, but no post-impact fire. The impacts caused substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, engine mounts, landing gear, and tail surfaces. The student pilot reported that he was not injured. An examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting anomalies. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C