FUQUAY-VARINA, NC, USA
N9345U
CESSNA 150M
ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, HE AND THE PRE-SOLO STUDENT WERE CONDUCTING TOUCH-AND-GO TRAINING WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO RETRACT THE WING FLAPS AFTER LANDING. DURING THE TAKEOFF PHASE OF THE PROCEDURE, THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO GAIN NORMAL CLIMB AIRSPEED. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TOOK THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT, AND ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THE AIRSPEED, AND RETRACT THE WING FLAPS. UPON REALIZING THAT A SAFE CLIMB TO CLEAR TREES WAS NOT POSSIBLE, THE INSTRUCTOR ABORTED THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A GRASSY AREA, AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM, BUT THE WING FLAPS WERE STILL IN THE LANDING POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S HANDBOOK, 'FLAP DEFLECTIONS OF 30 DEGREES AND 40 DEGREES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED AT ANY TIME FOR TAKEOFF'; UP IS THE NORMAL TAKEOFF POSITION FOR WING FLAPS.
On March 25, 1995, at 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N9345U, nosed over off the departure end of runway 34 at Triple W Airport in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The training flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the certified flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight departed Fuquay-Varina, at 1340 hours. According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were conducting traffic pattern work at Triple W Airport. After the second landing, the student was instructed to "go around". At this point both the student and instructor thought that the landing flaps had been retracted. As the student applied full power, the airplane climbed quickly to 50 feet. The student was instructed to "go forward with the yoke", since the airspeed was only 40 knots. The flight instructor took the flight controls from the student and attempted to recover the aircraft from the low airspeed condition and attempted retract the landing flaps which were still fully extended. Since the airplane had not gained enough altitude to clear the surrounding trees, the instructor aborted the climb and landed in a grassy area off of the runway. During the landing, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot's operating handbook, "flap deflections of 30 degrees and 40 degrees are not recommended at any time for takeoff"; up is the normal takeoff position for the wing flaps. No mechanical problem was reported with the airplane by the flight instructor; the flight instructor did report gusty winds. Examination of the airplane at the accident site disclosed that the wing flaps were in the fully extended position.
THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST WHICH RESULTED IN AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH THE WING FLAPS EXTENDED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
