Cessna 150F accident near Rock Falls, Illinois, July 24, 2021
On July 24, 2021 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150F, registered N7893F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Rock Falls, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The right seat pilot’s improper decision to perform a low approach with full flaps and the failure of the flaps to retract during the attempted go-around, which resulted in a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2021 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Falls, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F, built 1966 · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7893F · registry record · serial 15063993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane owner and the other pilot met each other at an aviation event just before the accident flight. After a short discussion, the two pilots decided to conduct a local flight in the accident airplane. After takeoff, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the right seat pilot (non-owner) asked to take the airplane’s controls from the owner (seated in the left seat), and a positive exchange of controls was accomplished. The right seat pilot then flew a low approach over a temporary grass runway with 40° of flaps extended. The right seat pilot did not intend to land; instead, he performed a go-around about 100 ft above the ground with full engine power and carburetor heat in the OFF position. The right seat pilot then attempted to retract the flaps, and he reported the flaps would not retract. The left seat pilot attempted to cycle the flap switch and was unsuccessful in retracting the flaps. Unable to maintain altitude, the right seat pilot performed an off airport landing to a corn field. The airplane impacted the corn field, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and engine mount. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine, which included testing of the flap system, revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A four-port universal serial bus (USB) power supply adapter was found plugged into a power port located just below the cockpit flap switch. It was undetermined if the adapter conflicted with the operation of the flap switch. Based on available evidence, a reason for the reported flap issue was not determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 151 hours in all; 138 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,829 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200A (piston); 4,476 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KSQI
Weather report (METAR): KSQI 242256Z 29013KT 10SM CLR 32/25 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP973 T03170250
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on May 24, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Requests for Accident Form (Right Seat Pilot) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Examination Summary - FAA and Textron | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt of Aircraft Records | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Excerpt of Cessna Owner's Manual | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Textron Video of Flap System Check | MOV file | Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Textron | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N7893F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.