Collision with terrain involving a Cessna 172N, VH-TEQ, 55 km west of Coonabarabran Aerodrome, New South Wales, on 5 February 1996

The pilot reported that he approached the landing site at about 500 ft AGL in light drizzle. There were thunderstorms in the area and the wind was gusty and changing direction.

An approach was made to runway 27 at 500 ft. On final, 10 degrees of flap was set and the aircraft descended to 250 ft. The pilot then decided that he was too high to land, and a go-around was initiated. The aircraft turned onto cross wind at 80 kts. As the aircraft turned down wind, the pilot looked back at the runway. When he looked forward again, he realised the aircraft was very low to the ground. He applied full power and full back stick, but the left wing struck a fence.

The aircraft skidded to a stop, damaging the left wing and the propeller blades and breaking the nose wheel and windscreen.