# Accident 20190909014589A: Cessna 150M, Whitehall, MI, September 9, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2019, 11:42 local time
- Place: Whitehall, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4056° N, 86.3356° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4056&lon=-86.3356&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9492U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9492U-2022-05-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150M (registry code 2071830, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA308) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190909014589A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1230, RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC) TO ADVISE AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 1142 IN WHITEHALL, MI. AN AIRCRAFT HAD HIT A WATER TOWER IN THE CITY OF WHITEHALL AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOPHIA AND WARNER STREETS. THE PILOT WAS IDENTIFIED FROM HIS DRIVERS LICENSE LOCATED IN HIS WALLET.

THE AIRCRAFT HAD DEPARTED FROM FREMONT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, 15NM EAST, APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING LOW IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT POWER UNTIL IT CRASHED IN TO THE WATER TOWER AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE WATER TOWER IS 180 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND HOLDS 500,000 GALLONS.

INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM CAMI SHOWS THE PILOT?S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE EXPIRED ON 11/30/2000. THE AIRCRAFT DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITION TO BE OPERATED AS A LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR, NOR HAD HE APPLIED FOR BASICMED.

## 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 CEN19LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA308), Sep 9, 2019: Cessna 150 (N9492U), Whitehall, MI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s flight into a water tower while operating below minimum safe altitudes for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.

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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