Lsa America INC ALLEGRO accident near Adrian, Michigan, December 6, 2012
On December 6, 2012 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Lsa America INC ALLEGRO, registered N448SS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Adrian, Michigan (Lenawee County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot’s improper flight control input during a go-around and his interference with the flight instructor’s attempted remedial actions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 2012 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Adrian, Michigan · Lenawee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lsa America INC ALLEGRO
- Registration
- N448SS · no longer on the register · serial 11-9001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on approach for a touch-and-go landing, the flight instructor directed the student pilot to go around when the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground. The student pilot added power, and the airplane began to roll and yaw to the left. The student applied the left rudder, and the instructor announced that he would take control of the airplane. The student pilot did not fully relinquish control of the airplane to the instructor, and the airplane impacted the ground. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure were reported by the instructor.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during approach (VFR go-around)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 29, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Walker Flight School LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KADG Adrian MI at 11:00 pm
- Destination: KADG Adrian MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KADG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.