# NTSB ATL95LA073: Cessna 150M, N9345U, Fuquay-Varina, NC, March 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 1995, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Fuquay-Varina, NC - Coordinates: 35.540809, -78.830238 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5408&lon=-78.8302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3542/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA073 ## Probable cause THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST WHICH RESULTED IN AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH THE WING FLAPS EXTENDED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - checklist - not used, pilot in command(cfi) - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9345U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9345U-1996-08-20), registration cancelled 1996-08-20, S/N 15078294 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078294 - Airframe hours: 700 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ginn Inc.,, doing business as Ron'S Aircraft Services - Registered owner: Trimborn, Harry J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 1995 - Departed: 5W5 - Airport: 5W5, Triple W, runway 34, 3,000 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 200 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950325005409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950325005409A), Mar 25, 1995: Cessna 150M, Raleigh, NC, Substantial damage. Failed raise flaps on touch and go. Uncable climb. CFI took over. Aborted due trees off end. Nosed over landing. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.