BFO88FA025

Factual narrative

THE STUDENT PLT ELECTED TO INITIATE THE FLT EVEN THOUGH THE FLAPS MALFUNCTIONED DURING THE PREVIOUS FLT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE FLAPS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. THE PLT HAD NOT BEEN FEELING WELL ON THE MORNING OF THE FLT AND FELT WORSE AS THE FLT PROGRESSED. BECAUSE HE WAS ILL, THE PLT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF HE HAD DECIDED HE WOULD LAND ON RWY 36 IF THE FLAPS WERE INOP. ON TAKEOFF WINDS WERE FROM 270 DEG BUT HAD SHIFTED TO THE SOUTH/SOUTHWEST DURING THE FLT. THE PLT WAS SO PREOCCUPIED WITH WANTING TO LAND THE ACFT BECAUSE HE WAS ILL THAT HE FAILED TO ADJUST HIS A/S FOR A NO-FLAP LANDING. THE ACFT FLOATED 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY BEFORE THE PLT INITIATED THE ABORTED LANDING. THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. A SPRING WAS FOUND ON THE FLAP HANDLE BTWN THE ROD AND RELEASE BUTTON. PERSONS INTERVIEWED DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE THE SPRING CAME FROM. THE FLAPS OPERATED PROPERLY DURING POST ACCIDENT TESTING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12