Cessna 150F N7893F accident near Rock Falls, Illinois

Probable cause

The right seat pilot’s improper decision to perform a low approach with full flaps and the failure of the flaps to retract during the attempted go-around, which resulted in a forced landing.

NTSB analysis

The airplane owner and the other pilot met each other at an aviation event just before the accident flight. After a short discussion, the two pilots decided to conduct a local flight in the accident airplane. After takeoff, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the right seat pilot (non-owner) asked to take the airplane’s controls from the owner (seated in the left seat), and a positive exchange of controls was accomplished. The right seat pilot then flew a low approach over a temporary grass runway with 40° of flaps extended. The right seat pilot did not intend to land; instead, he performed a go-around about 100 ft above the ground with full engine power and carburetor heat in the OFF position. The right seat pilot then attempted to retract the flaps, and he reported the flaps would not retract. The left seat pilot attempted to cycle the flap switch and was unsuccessful in retracting the flaps. Unable to maintain altitude, the right seat pilot performed an off airport landing to a corn field. The airplane impacted the corn field, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and engine mount.

Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine, which included testing of the flap system, revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A four-port universal serial bus (USB) power supply adapter was found plugged into a power port located just below the cockpit flap switch. It was undetermined if the adapter conflicted with the operation of the flap switch. Based on available evidence, a reason for the reported flap issue was not determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN21LA335 for the full record.