Cessna 150H accident near San Carlos, California, June 27, 1996
On June 27, 1996 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N7260S, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Carlos, California (San Carlos airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the flaps to retract due to the installation of an incorrect fuse and the inadequate maintenance/inspections performed on the system; and the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering for a forced landing, 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
- June 27, 1996 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- San Carlos, California · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N7260S · no longer on the register · serial 15067960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The CFI stated that on the fifth touch and go the student landed, moved the flap selector to the up position, then added full power to takeoff. The student rotated and lifted off from the 2,600-foot-long runway just as the CFI realized that the flaps had not retracted. The flaps did not respond to repeated movement of the selector handle. At this point, the aircraft had passed the end of the runway and would not climb as the airspeed began to decay. The instructor said he attempted to land the aircraft in a clear area straight ahead; however, touched down hard and collapsed the nose gear. A ground witness observed the takeoff attempt of the aircraft and reported that after gaining about 100 feet of altitude it seemed to began losing altitude. The witness saw the flaps in the full down position and noted that the aircraft seemed to be slowing down and losing altitude at a more rapid rate. He said the aircraft nose rose, then the aircraft stalled and descended nose down to ground impact. Examination by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the flaps were in the full down position. The flap system fuse in the cockpit was a 20 amp fast blow fuse and was found burned out. The parts manual specifies a 15 amp slow blow fuse. Corrosion deposits were found on the fuse and the fuse holder. No other discrepancies were found with the flap system. The fuse was replaced and the system functioned satisfactorily. An annual inspection was completed 1 month and 27 hours prior to the accident. The maintenance manual specifies that all fuses must be checked during each 50-hour and annual inspection. Cessna reported that during certification flight testing the Cessna 150H demonstrated the capability for a positive climb gradient of 175 feet per minute with full flaps at sea level on a standard day.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 168 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command; 154 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1996; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:42 pm from SQL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.