# Accident 20220730013739A: Cessna C120, Mecosta, MI, July 30, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2022, 10:35 local time
- Place: Mecosta, MI
- Airport: Mecosta Morton
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.6304° N, 85.2613° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6304&lon=-85.2613&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2902N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2902N-2023-04-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C120
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,454 total, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA358) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220730013739A

## Narrative

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

ON 07/30/2022 AT APPROXIMATELY 1035, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A CESENA C-120 AIRCRAFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AND SUBSEQUENT PROP STRIKE-NOSE OVER ACCIDENT AT MECOSTA-MORTON AIRPORT (27C) ON RUNWAY 03. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING TAKE-OFF WERE VMC WITH CALM WINDS. REPORTED WEATHER AT BIG RAPIDS MUNICIPAL (KRQB) AWOS AT 0955 WINDS 240 AT 5, VIS 10 MILES SKC 23/19 30.19. . THIS FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. 27C IS A SMALL MUNICIPAL AIRFIELD WITH 2 GRASS RUNWAYS. RUNWAY 3/21 IN 2027 FEET LONG AND 100 FEET WIDE AND IS MARKED WITH 18INCH YELLOW CONES. THE RUNWAY IS IN FAIR CONDITION. EVIDENCED BY MARKS IN THE GRASS RUNWAY AT THE NE END OF THE RUNWAY THE TRACKS LEAD TO END OF THE RUNWAY AND ROUGH GROUND AND WEEDS. APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET INTO THE WEEDS AND YOU CAN SEE GOUGES IN THE SOFT DIRT OF A PROP STRIKE WITH THE GROUND AND APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET FURTHER BROKEN GLASS ON THE GROUND FROM THE TOP OF AIRCRAFT COCKPIT. 10 FEET FURTHER BACK THERE IS A GOUGE IN THE GROUND FROM WHERE THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED ITS NOSE OVER. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE PROP, ENGINE COWLING, TAIL, BUCKLING OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT WING TIPS, LEFT REAR AND BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE, AND THE GLASS IN THE ROOF OF THE COCKPIT WAS SHATTERED ALL EVIDENCED BY PICTURES TAKEN BY THE INSPECTOR IN CHARGE (IIC). UPON ARRIVAL OF THE SCENE BY THE FAA IIC, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RIGHTED BACK ON TO ITS MAIN LANDING GEAR AND MOVED OFF OF THE RUNWAY TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY EDGE. THERE WAS A SLIGHT TAILWIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

THE PILOT WILL BE COUNSELLED ON CORRECT PROCEDURES WHEN ABORTING A TAKEOFF ON A SOFT FIELD WITH A TAIL WIND.

## 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 CEN22LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA358), Jul 30, 2022: Cessna 120 (N2902N), Mecosta, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart on inadequate runway surface conditions that resulted in a loss of control after attempting to abort the takeoff, a runway excursion, and a nose over.

## Other reports on N2902N (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19820725031469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820725031469A), Jul 25, 1982: Cessna 120 (N2902N), Niles, MI, Substantial damage. Solo student bounced lost control flipped over on night landing. Instructor negligent on soloing student at dark.

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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