Event ERA12CA523

Factual narrative

While landing the pilot touched down and the airplane began to porpoise. The pilot then added power and attempted to land again. The airplane once again touched down and began to porpoise. This time the pilot decided to do a go-around. During the go-around he did not feel he was going to clear some trees and decided to put the airplane down in a field. Upon touching down in the field, the nose landing gear and right main landing gear collapsed. The left wing, right wing, and fuselage incurred substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues and the engine was producing full power but, the airplane only had about a hundred horsepower and he did not feel as though he was gaining enough altitude. He also stated that he was “behind” the airplane during the go-around. Examination of the airport and accident site revealed that during the go-around, the airplane had made ground contact off the right side of the runway, became airborne again, flew over the top of a fence, and then touched down in the field. Examination of the airplane revealed that carburetor heat control was "ON". The push-pull type throttle was in the full open position, and the mixture control was in the full rich position. Review of the airplane's owner's manual revealed that if a porpoise was encountered during landing, a go-around should be executed by applying full power immediately and shutting "OFF" the carburetor heat. Further review of the owner's manual, along with the weight of the occupants, and the fuel on-board, revealed that during the occurrence, the airplane was being operated close to its published maximum gross weight. The pilot stated that the airplane began to porpoise after landing. When his efforts to correct the porpoise and continue the landing were not successful, the pilot decided to go around. During the attempted go-around, the pilot did not believe that he was going to clear some trees and decided to land the airplane in a field. The nose and right main landing gear collapsed after touchdown, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical issues and that the engine was producing full power. However, he added that the airplane’s engine only produced 100 horsepower and that he did not feel as though he was gaining enough altitude and was “behind the airplane” during the go-around. Examination of the airplane revealed that carburetor heat control was "ON," the throttle was in the full open position, and the mixture control was in the full rich position. Review of the airplane's owner's manual revealed that the pilot should immediately apply full power and turn the carburetor heat off during a go-around. Further review of the owner's manual indicated that, based on the airplane’s basic empty weight, the weights of the occupants, and the fuel on board, the airplane was operating at or near its published maximum gross weight during the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - F
• F Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Maximum weight-Not specified - F