NTSB Factual Report

On June 24, 2001, about 2246 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N8962V, impacted terrain during the initial climb following an aborted landing on runway 23 at the Placerville (uncontrolled) Airport, Placerville, California. The sole occupant of the airplane, a private pilot, sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was operated by Sun Air Aviation, LLC, Camarillo, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the dark nighttime flight. No flight plan was filed. The business flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Camarillo about 1945.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he recently obtained his private pilot certificate (May 6, 2001). The accident flight was the pilot's first nighttime, solo, cross-country experience since certification. The pilot further stated that during his first approach to runway 23 the airplane appeared too high, and its airspeed was too fast, so he made a go-around. On his second approach he also believed that he was too high. However, the airplane touched down long on the runway, which was 4,200 feet long. The pilot indicated that he was concerned about not being able to stop by the departure end of the runway, so he applied engine power to go around. The engine power increased normally. (The pilot did not indicate if he changed the position of the wing flaps.) During the initial climb out, the pilot experienced difficulty controlling the airplane. The airspeed was slow, the airplane stalled, and it impacted trees and terrain about 1/2-mile west of the airport.

The pilot also reported that his total night flying experience was 8.1 hours, and his total pilot-in-command night experience was 1.5 hours.

The Federal Aviation Administration coordinator and a representative from the airplane's operator responded to the accident site and made observations regarding the position of the cockpit flap control handle and the wing flaps. They reported that the flaps appeared fully extended, and their position appeared to correspond with the cockpit flap control handle's position, which was set to the 40-degree down indicator mark.

The Cessna Aircraft Company published information regarding procedures to be followed when involved in a go-around. The Cessna 172 Owner's Manual states, in pertinent part, the following: "In a balked landing (go-around) climb, reduce the wing flap setting to 20 degrees immediately after full power is applied. If the flaps were extended to 40 degrees, the reduction to 20 degrees may be approximated by placing the flap switch in the UP position for two seconds and then returning the switch to neutral."

NTSB Probable Cause

Inadequate airspeed during climb out following an aborted landing that was precipitated by the pilot's misjudged speed/distance on final approach. Also, contributing to the accident was the pilot's inexperience in the type of operation, his failure to properly configure the airplane's flaps for the go-around, and the dark nighttime condition.