Event GAA19CA375

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that, the student pilot was making a soft field landing, the airplane's nose was high and the student chose to go-around prior to touch down. The airplane did not climb and drifted to the left. The instructor assumed control of the airplane, attempted to correct by pitching the nose down, added full power, and decreased flaps to 20°. The airplane did not climb or accelerate and continued to drift left. Subsequently, the airplane touched down and bounced in the gravel infield, entered the ramp area and impacted a light pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right and left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 20 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 180° at 4 knots. The airplane was landing runway 7L. The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was making a soft-field landing, the airplane's nose was high, and the student chose to go around before touchdown. The airplane did not climb and drifted left. The instructor assumed control of the airplane and attempted to correct by pitching the nose down, adding full power, and decreasing flaps to 20°. However, the airplane did not climb or accelerate and continued to drift left. Subsequently, the airplane touched down and bounced on the gravel infield, entered the ramp area, and impacted a light pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 20 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 180° at 4 knots. The student was landing the airplane on runway 7L. 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-Heading/course-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Effect on operation