Comp Air Inc (Plambeck) CA8 N224MS

Summary

On 15 October 2015 at about 22:10 local time, a Comp Air Inc (Plambeck) CA8 registered N224MS was involved in an accident near Ray, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 October 2015 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Ray, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Ray Community Airport (57D)

Coordinates

42.7367, -82.8889

Aircraft

Comp Air Inc (Plambeck) CA8

Registration

N224MS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anniston → Ray

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CEN16LA017

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper use of the trim, which created a cross-controlled situation and resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the attempted go-around.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, while on a left downwind in the airport traffic pattern after conducting a cross-country business flight, he extended the flaps 10 degrees. While on short final, he fully extended the flaps, and shortly after, the left wing dropped. The pilot attempted to correct the left wing drop by applying right aileron and rudder; however, the airplane did not respond. The pilot chose to conduct a go-around and increased engine power. The airplane subsequently pitched up, and the left turn steepened. The pilot subsequently reduced engine power, and the airplane began to descend. The airplane struck the ground short of the runway, and the left wing separated from the fuselage. The examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the trim system revealed that the right aileron trim and the left rudder trim were in positions that would have resulted in a right turn and a left yaw. Further, a witness reported that the airplane appeared to be in a cross-controlled attitude while on final approach to the airport. It is likely that the pilot's improper use of the trim led to a cross-controlled situation and resulted in the subsequent stall during the attempted go-around.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.