Fatal spin and stall during go-around in Cessna 150F

Casualties unknown • Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield, Northamptonshire, GB

A student pilot was killed when his training aircraft entered a spin and struck the ground following a bounced landing and improper flap use at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield.

What happened

On 4 September 2015, a Cessna 150F, registration G-ATKF, was performing a solo training flight at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield in Northamptonshire. The student pilot was conducting solo consolidation of glide approaches. During the flight, the aircraft experienced a bounced landing on the runway. After the aircraft settled, the pilot applied power to initiate a go-around.

As the aircraft lifted off, it began a gentle climb. However, during this maneuver, the flaps were extended to approximately 38 degrees. This extension caused the aircraft to pitch up into a steep nose-up attitude. The pilot failed to control this pitch-up tendency, leading to a significant reduction in airspeed. Consequently, the aircraft stalled and entered a left-hand spin. Due to the low altitude, there was insufficient height for the pilot to recover before the aircraft struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. The impact resulted in one fatality.

The investigation

The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage and the flight controls. The investigation established that the aircraft's mechanical systems, including the engine, flight controls, and stall warning system, were fully functional and responsive to pilot input prior to the impact. The investigation also confirmed that the aircraft's propeller was at a high power setting at the moment of impact, as evidenced by the severe deformation of the blades.

Investigators also reviewed the pilot's training records and the aerodrome's operating procedures. It was noted that the student had been instructed to perform go-arounds using 20 or 3/0 degrees of flap, and had only seen a demonstration of a go-around using 40 degrees of flap. The investigation also examined the physical impact, determining that the deceleration forces experienced by the pilot were extreme, exceeding 85g.

Findings

  • The aircraft entered a stall and subsequent spin due to the extension of flaps to a high angle during a go-around without sufficient pitch control.
  • The pilot did not counteract the natural nose-up tendency caused by the high flap setting.
  • The aircraft was at a high power setting during the maneuver.
  • The student pilot's training for go-arounds with high flap settings was limited.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilot extending the flaps to a high angle during a go-around maneuver and failing to control the resulting nose-up pitch, which led to a stall and a subsequent spin from which recovery was impossible at the low altitude.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2015-09-04 Cessna 150F accident near Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield, Northamptonshire, GB?

A student pilot was killed when his training aircraft entered a spin and struck the ground following a bounced landing and improper flap use at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2015-09-04 involved a Cessna 150F, registration G-ATKF , at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield, Northamptonshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot extending the flaps to a high angle during a go-around maneuver and failing to control the resulting nose-up pitch, which led to a stall and a subsequent spin from which recovery was impossible at the low altitude.

Loading the flight search…