# Accident 19980512008949A: Cessna 150K, Clarkston, MI, May 12, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 1998, 09:30 local time
- Place: Clarkston, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7359° N, 83.4188° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clarkston, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7359&lon=-83.4188&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5876G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5876G-2017-05-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150K (registry code 2071822, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K
- Reported engine: CONT O200*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 217 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA148) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980512008949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING GO AROUND FROM ATTEMPTED LANDING IN A PARKING LOT. IMC PREVAILED.. (.4)THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT 3,500 FEET OVER A 'LOW LEVEL' BROKEN CLOUD LAYER.  WHEN HE THOUGHT HE WAS NEAR HIS DESTINATION HE DESCENDED THROUGH A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS.  ONCE BELOW THE CLOUDS THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED DECREASING CLOUDS AND VISIBILITY.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN AN OPEN PARKING AREA.  UPON TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT DISCOVERED THE SURFACE WAS WET AND COVERED WITH LOOSE GRAVEL.  UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE HE ABORTED THE LANDING.  ONCE AIRBORNE THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TREES AT THE END OF THE PARKING AREA. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SKY WAS OBSCURED AND VISIBILITY WAS 0 TO 1/4 MILE DUE TO FOG IN THE AREA WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  HE REPORTED HE WAS INFORMED OF FOG AT HIS DESTINATION DURING THE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, BUT IT WAS FORECAST TO DISSIPATE PRIOR TO HIS ARRIVAL.                          (-23) PILOT DEPARTED MICHIGAN CITY, IN (MGC) ENROUTE TO TROY, MI BIG BEAVER (3BB).  HE CONTACTED DETROIT APPROACH AND WAS TOLD TO STAND BY AND REMAIN CLEAR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE.  THE CONTROLLER HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF IFR DE                                                        PARTURES. THE PILOT CALLED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO "MAINTAIN RADIO SILENCE." CONTROLLER LATER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT AIRPLANE, WITH NO RESPONSE. AN OAKLAND CO., MI SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAW THE AIRPLANE CIRCLING PINE KNOB MUSIC THEATRE, ABOUT 5.3 NM NNE OF PONTIAC, MI AIRPORT (PTK). IT TOUCHED DOWN ON A GRASS PARKING LOT AND WENT AROUND. IT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, AND ON THE SECOND GO-AROUND HIT A TREE AND FELL TO CLARKSTON ROAD.  THE DEPUTY ESTIMATED THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY AS 100 FEET AND 2 MILES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA148), May 12, 1998: Cessna 150K (N5876G), Clarkston, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot selected unsuitable terrain on which to make the precautionary landing due to weather. Factors associated with the accident were the fog, low ceiling, poor in-flight planning, the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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