Event GAA19CA504

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced multiple times. He added power and reduced the flaps to go around, but the airplane was not climbing more than 25 ft. He waited to see if the situation would improve, but he ran out of runway. He turned right, still unable to climb, reduced power, and landed off airport. The airplane bounced a few times and the nose landing gear collapsed. He added that it was possible that "putting the flaps up un-incrementally could have prevented" his ability to climb. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot 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 4 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 250° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 28. Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, contains a section titled "Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings)" which states: Caution must be used in retracting the flaps. Depending on the airplane's altitude and airspeed, it is wise to retract the flaps intermittently in small increments to allow time for the airplane to accelerate progressively as they are being raised. A sudden and complete retraction of the flaps could cause a loss of lift resulting in the airplane settling into the ground. The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane bounced multiple times. He added power and reduced the flaps to go around, but the airplane would not climb more than 25 ft. He waited to see if the situation would improve, but he was approaching the end of the runway. He turned the airplane right; however, the airplane still did not climb, so he reduced power and conducted an off-airport landing, during which the airplane bounced a few times, and the nose landing gear collapsed. He added that it was possible that "putting the flaps up un-incrementally could have prevented" the airplane from climbing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot 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 4 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 250° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 28. The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3B, contained a section titled, "Go-Arounds (Rejected Landings)," which stated, in part, the following: Caution must be used in retracting the flaps. Depending on the airplane's altitude and airspeed, it is wise to retract the flaps intermittently in small increments to allow time for the airplane to accelerate progressively as they are being raised. A sudden and complete retraction of the flaps could cause a loss of lift resulting in the airplane settling into the ground. 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-Configuration-Capability exceeded - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-TE flap control system-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Configuration-Incorrect use/operation - C