Accident Details
On September 4, 2018, at approximately 1226 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F airplane, registration N8028F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richland, Missouri. The flight instructor was seriously injured, while the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The instructor reported that he and the student pilot were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 14. During the second touch-and-go, the instructor stated that the maneuver "went bad" and he could not recall the events that followed.
Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed impact marks on the runway surface consistent with the nose landing gear and a rotating propeller. The airplane exited the left side of runway 14, approximately 1,800 feet from the approach end, and came to rest inverted about 25 feet from the runway. The wings and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The flaps were found in the fully extended position. Control continuity was confirmed after the airplane was removed from the site.
Weather Conditions
The 1156 automated weather observation at Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (TBN), located about 17 miles southeast, reported wind from 160° at 17 knots, gusting to 23 knots. Visibility was 10 miles with clear skies. The runway heading was 140° magnetic, resulting in a 7-knot right crosswind component.
Aircraft Information
According to the airplane’s owner’s manual, normal and obstacle clearance takeoffs are performed with flaps up. The use of 10 degrees of flaps shortens the ground run by approximately 10%, but this advantage is lost in the climb to a 50-foot obstacle. Flap deflections of 30 or 40 degrees are not recommended for takeoff at any time. For crosswind takeoffs, the manual recommends using the minimum flap setting necessary for the field length to minimize drift angle immediately after takeoff. The airplane should be accelerated to a slightly higher than normal speed and pulled off abruptly to prevent possible settling back onto the runway.