CEN09LA557

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150F · Rosedale, MI · September 2, 2009

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 2, 2009, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC)
Place
Rosedale, MI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N6446FCessna 150F
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 3, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA-GRR-FSDO
FAA report
20090902049609A
Case key
74648

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground run. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's deteriorated physical and mental capabilities.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 150F: 28 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 150F: 14 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The 84-year-old pilot reported that the airplane did not seem to have enough power to become airborne during the takeoff. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway, where it came to rest after contacting trees and scrub brush. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Neither the pilot nor the airplane had flown during the past 3 years. The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate. The pilot's wife reported that he suffered a fall 3 years ago and that his physical and mental capabilities were such that he should not have been trying to fly the airplane.

Factual narrative

On September 2, 2009, at 1310 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N6446F, collided with trees and the terrain following a loss of control while taking off from a private airstrip in Rosedale, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The local personal flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The 85-year-old pilot reported that the airplane did not seem to have enough power to become airborne during the takeoff. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway where it came to rest after contacting trees and scrub brush. The pilot had not flown during the past 3 years, nor had the airplane been flown in 3 years. The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate. The pilot's wife reported he suffered a fall 3 years ago and that his physical and mental capabilities were such that he should not have been trying to fly the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N6446F
Reported as
Cessna 150F
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15063046
Engine
Cont Motor 0-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Robert C. Rawlings
Registered owner
Robert C. Rawlings
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
PVT · Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Destination
PVT · Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Airport
PVT · Rosedale Airport

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
84
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,000 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.26 inHg
Observed at
ANJ, 7 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 866 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.