20010603009969A

(.19)On June 3, 2001, at 1000 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N10531, was substantially damaged when it crashed into a farm equipment yard shortly after takeoff from Mefford field (tlr), Tulare, California. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by anthony p. sario, and was rented by the student for the local solo practice flight under 14 CFR part 91. The airplane departed visalia, California, approximately 0945 for the 10-mile flight to Mefford field. The student was going to practice takeoffs and landings. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. A witness was at the farm exposition grounds, located adjacent to, and at the departure end, of runway 31 at Mefford field. He was participating in remote control (r.c.) airplane flying at a runway located on the grounds. He stated that he witnessed the airplane as it was climbing from a departure on runway 31. He immediately noticed that the wing flaps were extended to what he believed was the full down position. He saw the airplane climb straight out until it reached what he estimated to be 200 to 250 feet above the ground. He then noticed the airplane begin a turn to the left, in a westerly direction, and saw the nose come up to a higher attitude. He remarked to a friend that the airplane was going to stall. Shortly thereafter, the witness saw the airplane snap to the left, go straight down with the left wing slightly ahead of the right, and disappear behind the trees. A second witness, who is a certificated pilot, had his back to the runway and was conversing with the first witness. He heard the airplane climbing behind him and turned around to look at it. He said that the engine sounded perfectly normal, like any other Cessna 150 on takeoff, but he noted that the flaps were full down. He turned around to speak to the first witness, who then remarked, "it's going to stall." When he turned around to look, the airplane had disappeared behind the trees. Examination of the wreckage disclosed that the flap actuator jackscrew measured 5.9 inches extension. According to Cessna aircraft, this dimension corresponds to a flap extension of 40 degrees. Electrical continuity was established for the flap circuit. Internal examination of the cockpit flap control switch revealed that the detents were unremarkable. Electrical power was supplied to the flap motor and it functioned in both the extension and retraction directions. The student had a total flight time of 38.5 hours, all of which were in the accident airplane. She had accomplished her first solo flight on February 17, 2001, and had subsequently logged 5.4 hours of solo flight time prior to the accident. The flight just prior to the accident had been on may 29, 2001, and was a dual lesson from the visalia airport to Mefford field and return to visalia. The student had a logbook endorsement from a flight instructor certifying proficiency in takeoffs and landings at visalia and Mefford field dated may 17, 2001. (-23)privacy data omitted was a student pilot with only 4.4 hours of solo time and 43 hours dual. She was conducting a solo flight from cisalia, CA to Tulare California and was practicing takeoffs and landings at the Tulare airport. Investigation indicates that she made a takeoff in the Cessna 150 with full flaps. Photographs taken at th scene indicate upon impact the flaps were fully deployed. The impact site is approximately 1/4 mile off the end of runway 31 at Tulare in a farm equipment yard. Site investigation indic tes the aircraft impacted the ground with full power on at an angle of about 60 to 70 degrees angle. The aircraft on impact had turned about 90 degrees to the left of runway 31. There was no fire, however, there was over 8 gals of fuel in the tanks. The aircraft was destroyed and the injuries to the pilot were fatal. Reveiw of the students log book and certificate indicate, preliminarily, that privacy data omitted was properly endorsed for the solo flight to Tulare. (.4) on June 3, 2001, at 1000 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N10531, was substantially damaged when it crashed into a farm equipment yard shortly after takeoff from Mefford field (tlr), Tulare, California. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by anthony p. sario, and rented by the student for the local solo practice flight, under 14 CFR part 91. The airplane departed visalia, California, approximately 0945 for the 10-mile flight to Mefford field. The student was going to practice takeoffs and landings. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. A witness was at the farm exposition grounds, located adjacent to, and at the departure end, of runway 31 at Mefford field. He was participating in remote control (r.c.) airplane flying at a runway located on the grounds. He witnessed the airplane as it was climbing from a departure on runway 31. He noticed that the wing flaps were extended to what he believed was the full down position. He saw the airplane climb straight out until it reached what he estimated to be 200 to 250 feet above the ground. He then noticed the airplane begin a turn to the left, in a westerly direction, and saw the nose come up to a higher attitude. He remarked to a friend that the airplane was going to stall. Shortly thereafter, the witness saw the airplane snap to the left, make one complete rotation to the left, with the left wing slightly lower than the right, and disappear behind some buildings. A second witness, who is a certificated pilot, was conversing with the first witness. He also noted that the flaps were full down. He turned around to speak to the first witness, who then remarked, "it's going to stall." When he turned back to look, the airplane had disappeared behind the buildings.