# NTSB DEN05LA104: Cessna 150L, N6839G, Rocky Ford, CO, July 8, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2005, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Rocky Ford, CO - Coordinates: 38.083332, -103.699165 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0833&lon=-103.6992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 61863 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61863/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA104 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged distance/altitude. A contributing factor was the inadvertent flap retraction. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - raising of flaps - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command - Hard landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The airplane had a history of uncommanded flap retraction, but an airworthiness inspector could find no anomalies. The pilot took off to practice touch-and-go landings. The first landing, using 20 degrees of flaps, was without incident. On the second landing approach, he used 30 degrees of flaps. The airplane began to settle and the pilot added full power and pulled aft on the control yoke. The airplane landed hard and short of the runway. The pilot closed the throttle. The airplane struck a dirt bank and nosed over. As the pilot climbed out, he noticed the flap indicator "was at about 2 degrees." In a later interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot said no discrepancies were found with the flap system and that it was likely he had inadvertently retracted the flaps. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2005, approximately 0915 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6839G, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at a private airstrip near Rocky Ford, Colorado. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at this airstrip approximately 0900 mdt. The pilot said the airplane had a history of uncommanded flap retraction, but an airworthiness inspector could find no abomalies. The pilot took off to practice touch-and-go landings. The first landing, using 20 degrees of flaps, was without incident. On the second landing approach, he used 30 degrees of flaps. The airplane began to settle and the pilot added full power and pulled aft on the control yoke. The airplane landed hard and short of the runway. The pilot closed the throttle. The airplane struck a dirt bank and nosed over. As the pilot climbed out, he noticed the flap indicator "was at about 2 degrees." In a later interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot said no discrepancies were found with the flap system and that it was likely he had inadvertently retracted the flaps. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6839G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6839G-2007-08-11), registration cancelled 2007-08-11, S/N 15072339, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072339 - Airframe hours: 4030.1 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred Piatt Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 2.47 hours before - Departed: Rocky Ford, CO - Airport: UNK, Cottonwood, runway 27, 2,800 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 508 total, 47 in this make and model, 461 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg ## 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 20050708016819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050708016819A), Jul 8, 2005: Cessna 150L, Rocky Ford, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was being piloted by a Private pilot during approach to landing (touch and go) to a Private airstrip. During the second approach the… 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.