CHI04CA258

Factual narrative

On September 13, 2004, at 1648 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7662C, collided with a T-hangar following a loss of directional control during a go-around on runway 15 (5,090 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Detroit City Airport (DET), Detroit, Michigan. The student pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated at DET about 1600. The student pilot stated he performed three full stop takeoffs and landings. The accident occurred during the fourth landing. He stated the airplane veered sharply to the left as he was beginning to flare. He stated he decided to go around so he added power, but the airplane did not gain altitude and it kept veering to the left. The student pilot stated he decided to extend the flaps and the last thing he remembers is reaching for the flap handle. The airplane contacted a T-hangar which was located off the left side of the runway, coming to rest embedded in the T-hangar approximately 10 feet above the ground. The local winds reported at 1653 were form 140 degrees at 11 knots. The local winds reported at 1707 were from 120 degrees at 10 knots. Inspection of the airplane by an Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Detroit Flight Standards District Office failed to reveal any flight control failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the accident. The student pilot reported having 39.6 total hours of flight time, 5.5 hours of which were solo. The airplane became embedded in a T-hangar following a loss of directional control during a landing/go-around. The student pilot stated he performed three full stop takeoffs and landings, and the accident occurred during the fourth landing. He stated the airplane veered sharply to the left as he was beginning to flare so he added power to go-around. The airplane did not gain altitude and it kept veering to the left. The student pilot stated he decided to extend the flaps and the last thing he remembers is reaching for the flap handle. The airplane contacted a T-hangar which was located off the left side of the runway, coming to rest embedded in the T-hangar approximately 10 feet above the ground. The local winds reported at 1653 were from 140 degrees at 11 knots. The local winds reported at 1707 were from 120 degrees at 10 knots. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any flight control failure/malfunction that would have resulted in the accident. The student pilot reported having 39.6 total hours of flight time, 5.5 hours of which were solo. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12