# NTSB CEN09LA557: Cessna 150F, N6446F, Rosedale, MI, September 2, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2009, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Rosedale, MI - Coordinates: 46.479167, -84.368331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4792&lon=-84.3683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-GRR-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA557 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74648/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74648 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA557 ## 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 NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Health/Fitness: predisposing condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6446F-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 15063046, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15063046 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090902049609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090902049609A), Sep 2, 2009: Cessna 150F, Sault Ate Marie, MI, Substantial damage. 84 Year old pilot attempted to fly his Cessna 150 off a private grass strip on a clear calm day. He struck trees with the left wing during rotation and the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74648. 866 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 621 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Michigan State Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Michigan%20State%20Police%20Report-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.