Cessna 172N | N734ZK

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the CFI while giving instruction in the accident aircraft, did alert ATC that they were going around, whereupon the accident aircraft added power, raised the nose, and retracted flaps. The aircraft did enter an aerodynamic stall at low altitude and impacted nearly vertical near the approach of runway 28L. Winds were strong and gusty from right to left during the approach. ATC audio indicates nothing abnormal prior to the go around.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to be fully prepared to do a go around from any speed and configuration. Allowing the nose to come up above level during a go around while retracting the flaps is a recipe for stall.