- Date
- April 24, 1995, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Napoleon, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8291SCessna 150F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950424048089A
- Case key
- 9876
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to retract the wing flaps prior to takeoff and the subsequent failure of the airplane to climb during takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot attempted to takeoff from a private field with 40 degrees of flaps extended. The airplane would not climb and it settled into a marsh area off the end of the field.
Factual narrative
On April 24, 1995, about 1815 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Cessna 150F, N8291S, settled into a marsh area during takeoff from a private field in Napoleon, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured. The sole passenger aboard the airplane received minor injuries. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
The pilot stated he had been practicing takeoffs and landings at several local airstrips. He then landed at the private field. He reported that after landing, he failed to retract the flaps. During a subsequent takeoff, he stated, that the airplane would not climb after takeoff. It crossed a road and settled to the terrain in a marsh area.
Examination of the airplane revealed the wing flaps were extended and jammed in the 40 degree extended position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8291S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15061891
- Airframe hours
- 3,686
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Branford Hart
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Airport
- Private Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 557 total · 9 in this make and model · 528 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JXN, 11 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.