Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's premature retraction of the flaps and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said he intended to land at the airstrip to examine the surrounding land for possible camping trips. He planned to meet his son, who was driving to the site in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The pilot said he was high during the approach to the 1,000-foot-long dirt strip and decided to execute a go-around after floating about 2/3 of the way down the runway. The pilot said he applied full power and retracted the flaps. He reported that the engine 'sputtered' momentarily then 'caught;' however, he let the airspeed get too slow and the aircraft stalled. The aircraft settled into the ground about 1/4 mile beyond the runway. A postcrash fire erupted and consumed the aircraft, to include all engine accessories. In his written report, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures of the aircraft.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 20, 1995, at 1530 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150G, N2688J, collided with the ground during an attempted go- around at a private dirt airstrip near Carefree, Arizona. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm winds according to the pilot. No flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence and postcrash fire. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Glendale, Arizona, airport on the day of the accident at 1415 hours. In an interview with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the pilot said he intended to land at the airstrip to examine the surrounding land for possible camping trips. He planned to meet his son, who was driving to the site in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The pilot said he was high during the approach to the 1,000-foot-long dirt strip and decided to execute a go-around after floating about 2/3 of the way down the runway. The pilot said he applied full power and retracted the flaps. He reported that the engine "sputtered" momentarily then "caught;" however, he let the airspeed get too slow and the aircraft stalled. The aircraft settled into the ground about 1/4 mile beyond the runway. A postcrash fire erupted and consumed the aircraft, to include all engine accessories. In his written report, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures of the aircraft. -