Incident Overview
A recently certificated private pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the third takeoff, with the flaps extended 40 degrees, the pilot moved the flap lever to the 10-degree position. The airplane then lifted off prematurely, but the airspeed did not increase. The pilot realized that the flaps were still fully extended and the airplane was only about 2 feet above the ground, beyond the departure end of the runway.
Emergency Landing
The pilot elected to execute an off-airport landing in the brush-covered desert. Rescue personnel arrived at the accident site and reported that the flaps were retracted. Later, an FAA inspector arrived after the rescue personnel had left and reported that the flaps were fully extended and that the flap lever was in the fully extended position. The inspector stated that the flaps operated normally.
Aircraft and Personnel
The source did not specify the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, location, number of occupants, injuries, or damage items. No time of day, weather characterization, or ATC involvement was mentioned. Toxicology tests or fatal outcomes were not stated.
Investigation Findings
The FAA inspector noted normal flap operation. The discrepancy between the rescue personnel's observation of retracted flaps and the inspector's observation of fully extended flaps remains unresolved in the source material. No probable cause was explicitly stated in the source.