NTSB Factual Report

On July 3, 2006, about 1140 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N6413C, collided with terrain during an attempted go-around at Butte Valley Airport, Dorris, California. Tradewinds Aviation was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The renter private pilot and three passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Butte Valley about 1030. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot submitted a written report. On the morning of the flight, the pilot calculated the weight and balance limitations, density altitude, and checked the weather forecast for the area using the Automated Digital Data System (ADDS). The flight departed Butte Valley Airport at 1030, and returned 1 hour later. The pilot circled over the airport and determined that the winds were calm. He entered a left traffic pattern for runway 34 and extended his downwind leg to properly set up for the approach. Upon turning final, the airplane was configured with 40 degrees of flaps. The pilot noticed a slight crosswind from the west and applied crosswind correction. On short final, the airplane was aligned with the runway with an indicated airspeed of about 65 knots.

The airplane crossed the approach end of the runway 50 feet above ground level (agl). At this time, the airplane rolled suddenly to the left and the stall warning horn briefly sounded. The pilot initiated a go-around by applying full power and retracting the flaps to 25 degrees. The pilot attempted to correct the airplane's left turning tendency with right rudder input. As the airplane continued to descend, the pilot released right rudder pressure and leveled the wings in an attempt to climb. The airplane continued to descend on a heading of 310 degrees. About 10 feet agl, the pilot pulled back on the yoke in an effort to slow the airplane down as much as possible. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear in a field about 100 yards west of the runway. The left wing dug into the ground and the airplane spun 90 degrees to the left before coming to a stop.

Butte Valley Airport is located at an elevation of 4,243 feet. At the time of the accident, the Klamath Falls Airport Automated Surface Observing System, 20 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, reported a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius and a barometric pressure of 30.13 inches of Mercury. The calculated density altitude for Butte Valley Airport using Klamath Falls weather information at the time of the accident was 6,313 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in a stall/mush. A contributing factor was the high density altitude.