Pilot Debrief

De Havilland DHC6 near San Marcos, TX — 2019-08-15

Final reportCEN19LA267
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Date
2019-08-15
Location
San Marcos, TX, USA
Airport
HYI
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC6
Registration
N322AV
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Go-around

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed go-around attempt and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action that resulted in a nose-down impact with terrain during an attempted go-around.

NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot receiving company flight training was flying an approach; the airplane was too high and entered an increasing descent rate. The flight instructor told the pilot to go around, about the same time the pilot elected to go around. However, the pilot’s corrective control and power inputs did not arrest the descent rate, and the airplane impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The operator reported there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have maintained control and avoided go-around initiation at high descent rate.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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