SAN JOSE, CA, USA
N1495V
CESSNA 172M
THE PILOT FAILED TO RETRACT THE FLAPS BEFORE TAKING OFF. AFTER TAKEOFF, SHE NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT 'GAINING AIRSPEED OR ALTITUDE.' THE TOWER CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PILOT THAT THE 'FLAPS LOOKED WRONG.' THE PILOT SAID SHE REACHED TO CHECK THE FLAP SWITCH, BUT COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AFTER THAT. ACCORDING TO GROUND WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED, THEN IT STALLED AND CRASHED AFTER REACHING ABOUT 100 TO 200' AGL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TRANSMISSION LINE, A SOLAR COLLECTOR ON THE ROOF OF A HOUSE, AND A FENCE. AN EXAM REVEALED THE FLAPS HAD BEEN RETRACTED BY THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT, IMPROPER RAISING OF THE FLAPS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
