Cessna 150G accident near Carefree, Arizona, February 20, 1995
On February 20, 1995 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N2688J, was destroyed in an accident near Carefree, Arizona (Red Creek Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1995 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · Red Creek Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2688J · no longer on the register · serial 15065688
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 138 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GUE Glendale AZ at 9:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2688J 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.