IAD97LA063

Factual narrative

On April 9, 1997, about 0812 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172N, N739AH, was substantially damaged as it impacted the terrain after a go around at the Lee Airport, Annapolis, Maryland. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were uninjured. The airplane was registered to the Fort Meade Flying Activity and owned by Fort Meade's Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight instructor stated that he received a weather briefing from the local flight service for two local airports, which were reporting winds of about 13 knots, and gusts up to 21 knots. He stated that the winds at Lee Airport were about 12 to 15 knots from 320 degrees magnetic. The flight instructor reported that the student pilot completed two takeoffs and landings from runway 30, without encountering any turbulence. He stated that the student was established on the glide slope for the third landing with 65 knots airspeed, 30 degrees flaps, and on centerline. With the runway made, the student reduced the power and began to flare the airplane. The flight instructor reported the right wing lifted dramatically and he immediately took control of the airplane. Unable to keep the airplane parallel to the runway, the flight instructor stated that he added full power. He reported that he did not raise the flaps, nor did he turn off the carburetor heat. He stated that the nose of the airplane pulled more to the left, and the airplane's ground track was in line with two small hangers. The airplane climbed about 100 feet and cleared the hangars, but was heading for a small field bordered by large trees and houses. Unable to maintain level flight at full power, the flight instructor stated that he lowered the nose slightly in an attempt to gain airspeed. The airplane continued to descend and the flight instructor reported that he flared as much as possible to soften the touchdown. An examination of the wreckage was completed by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. He reported that the nose and left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing and stabilizer spars were damaged, and the engine firewall and the cabin structure forward of the left wing strut attaching point were buckled. The flight instructor reported that most of his flight experience was in rotorcraft and he recently obtained his airplane flight instructor rating. The flight instructor had a total of 18 hours as a flight instructor, 5.8 hours were in make and model airplane. The Cessna model 172N Information Manual stated, "In a balked landing (go around) climb, reduce the flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If obstacles must be cleared during the go-around climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 10 degrees and maintain a safe airspeed until the obstacles are cleared...after clearing any obstacles, the flaps may be retracted as the airplane accelerates to the normal flaps-up climb speed." The flight instructor was briefed the winds in the local area were about 13 knots with gusts up to 21 knots. The instructor and student pilot then departed on a training flight. On short final for his third landing, the student had 65 knots on the airspeed indicator, 30 degrees of flaps set, and the carburetor heat on. As the student flared the airplane, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the instructor took control of the airplane. The instructor was unable to aligned the airplane with the runway. He added full power, did not touch the flaps or carburetor heat, and executed a go around. When the instructor added power, the nose of the airplane pulled more to the left, and the ground track was in line with two hangars. He avoided the hangars, but was heading for a small field. Unable to maintain level flight, and in an attempt to gain airspeed, the flight instructor lowered the nose of the airplane. The airplane continued to descend, and the flight instructor stated that 'he flared as much as possible to soften the touchdown (impact).' According to information manual for the aircraft , 'In a balked landing (go around) climb, reduce the flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If obstacles must be cleared during the go-around climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 10 degrees and maintain a safe airspeed until the obstacles are cleared...after clearing any obstacles, the flaps may be retracted as the airplane accelerates to the normal flaps-up climb speed.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12