Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

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. the pilot's misjudged distance/altitude. A contributing factor was the inadvertent flap retraction.