- Date
- April 22, 1997, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Lehighton, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N6717FCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970422006369A
- Case key
- 39348
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
replacement of the flap actuating system fuse by the pilot-in-command with the flap actuating handle in the fully retracted position. This resulted in the retraction of the flaps, an inadvertent stall/mush, and the subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
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 student pilot was undergoing a private pilot proficiency evaluation. During a go-around following a simulated forced landing, the flaps failed to retract. The student pilot gave the controls to the flight examiner and replaced the fuse for the flap actuating system. The fuse was installed with the flap handle in the fully retracted position, which resulted in the operation and inadvertent retraction of the flaps. The student pilot stated that the airplane then stalled, descended 60 to 100 feet, and landed hard in a field.
Factual narrative
On April 22, 1997, at 1345 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N6717F, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during a go-around at the Jake Arner Memorial Airport (22N), Lehighton, Pennsylvania. The student pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations, FSDO #05) received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a VFR flight plan was filed. The private pilot proficiency evaluation flight originated at 22N, at 1300, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the FAA Inspector (FSDO #5), the student pilot applicant was performing a simulated forced landing to runway 26 and was set up for the intended point of touchdown. The Inspector said he asked the applicant to perform a go-around, and when the flap lever was moved, the flaps failed to retract. The applicant gave the controls to the FAA Inspector and replaced a blown fuse for the flap actuating system. The Inspector explained that the fuse was replaced with the flap lever in the full 'up' position, which caused the flaps to retract and a loss of lift. He said, "...the airplane lost lift, stalled, dropped 60 to 100 feet and landed hard in a field..."
The Inspector stated that there were no other mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He stated that the flaps functioned properly during pre-flight and during the 45 minutes of flight prior to the accident. An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations, FSDO #13) recovered the blown fuse at the accident site.
The student pilot had approximately 68 hours of flight experience.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6717F
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15063317
- Airframe hours
- 2,400
- Engine
- Lycoming O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry L. Silfies
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 15, 1996 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- 22N · Reading, PA
- Airport
- 22N · Jake Arner Memorial, runway 26, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 67 total · 58 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AVP, 30 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.