The student pilot told investigators that the purpose of the flight was to complete a second solo cross-country.
She flew to the planned destination airport, where she performed a touch-and-go landing and then returned to the airport in Cut and Shoot, Texas.
During the final approach for landing, she lined up with the runway centerline. However, as the Piper PA-28-180 got closer to the ground, she realized she had drifted too far left of the centerline.
She attempted a go-around, but was not able to gain enough altitude to clear a nearby fence. The airplane’s left wing hit the fence and the airplane came down on the fence to a stop.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The student received minor injuries in the crash.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a go-around that resulted in an impact with a fence.
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This August 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
USAF policy: T&Gs with an experienced IP only! No solo T&Gs!
Plan every landing as a Go-Around. If everything is perfect – Land!
Given how many thousands of pilots, have done millions of touch & goes, safely and successfully, since Orville’s solo, it’s hard to say they aren’t “viable” maneuvers.
Granted, there are a lot of variations on the theme.
I think a main issue is there’s no one “standard procedure” for executing them …they are all “technique only”. I hear a lot of “I always do this…” and/or “I never do that…” coming from instructors teaching them.
When one CFI/flight school teaches them in Airplane X, one way, and another CFI/flight school teaches them differently … in the same type airplane … it gets interesting.
I quit teaching TANGOS after about 5 years. It’s not a viable maneuver. Here’s why. You land the airplane and while it’s rolling you have to advance the throttle, steer AND re-trim for takeoff, all the while trying to retract the flaps. One of those maneuvers will inevitably fail, You’ll either not get full throttle, head for the grass or take off and get a severe pitch up after rotation. Stop and go, depending on traffic is a much better way. Stop, set the trim, set the flaps, reset your brain for the take off, then go.
Who can’t do a touch and go?
…and sitting on the fence after moving to the left isn’t a good strategy…
I see what you did there.
Not a Fan of Touch&Go’s for Student Pilots…Is it in the ACS for The CheckRide…I thought DPE weren’t evaluating that manuver
We all have to learn sometime. Best is with sn instructor rather than being self taught
Nothing good comes out of drifting to the left…
Haha! I see where you’re going with that! I agree 100%!
” However ” attempting to change that direction may have dire consequences !