Rush City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rush City, Minnesota 55069
Monday, June 22, 1998 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that prior to takeoff he 'inadvertently' set the flaps to 20 degrees. He reported flying in ground effect for about 600 feet prior to climbing to an altitude of about 30 feet above the ground. The airplane then stalled, impacted the terrain, and a post impact fire ensued. Inspection of the airplane revealed the flap actuator was extended 4.8 inches which correlates to 29 degrees of flaps being extended. The pilot reported he was used to flying a Piper Cherokee and 'incorrectly thought that just like a Cherokee a 20 degree wing flap [setting] would shorten [the] ground roll.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane during the initial takeoff climb. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inattentiveness at lowering excessive flaps for takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RUSH CITY
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55069
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RUSH CITY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 54Y
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 923
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID CBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 945
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 391
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 22 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1328
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8450J
NTSB Number CHI98LA212
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 15066350
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THEODORE J. LIST
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR #2, BOX 83
Aircraft Owner City GRANDVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56156
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 54Y
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FSD
Destination City SOUIX FALL
Destination State SD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 4400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --