NTSB Factual Report

On August 11, 2002, at approximately 1745 mountain daylight time, a Collette RV6 homebuilt airplane, N835YC, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an attempted go-around at Nephi Municipal Airport (U14), Nephi, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this personal local flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at approximately 1730.

According to the pilot, while landing on runway 16 and after touch down on the centerline, the airplane veered to the left. He corrected with right rudder control input and brought the airplane back to the centerline. The left wing tip dipped and struck the runway causing the airplane to veer to the left a second time. He added full power, right rudder and aileron and attempted a go-around. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and became airborne for a moment, but the controls felt "sluggish," and the airplane would not climb. He continued over some farm equipment, a road, a fence and he set up for a forced landing in a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar and both main landing gear attachment points.

At 1735, the reported weather conditions at Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), Provo, Utah, (approximately 30 nautical miles and at 350 degrees from the accident site) was wind, 330 degrees at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 34 degrees C.; dew point, 02 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 29.97.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing roll, resulting in his attempt to go-around and an inadvertent stall/mush. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.