On October 1, 2005, a Cessna 150M (registration N45339) was involved in an aviation accident near Crystal Springs, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to retract the flaps during the go-around and his failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a dark night go-around, a private pilot with 141 hours lost control of a Cessna 150, impacting the ground nearly vertically. The flaps were found extended to 40 degrees.
Accident Details
While attempting a go-around maneuver during dark night conditions, the 141-hour private pilot lost control of the airplane. The aircraft impacted the ground in a near-vertical attitude. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the flaps were found in the 40-degree extended position. No other pre-impact anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Cessna 150. The Cessna 150 Owner's Manual specifies the proper procedure for performing a go-around maneuver: initially retract the wing flaps to 20 degrees until 65 MPH is established, then slowly retract the remaining flaps.
Operational Context
The go-around was attempted during dark night conditions. The pilot's total flight experience was 141 hours. The investigation did not identify any mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to impact.