CEN25LA026

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150 · Willis, MI · October 21, 2024

Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal report
Date
October 21, 2024, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
Place
Willis, MI
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N51046Cessna 150
Defining event
Landing: Runway excursion
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA East Michigan FSDO
FAA report
20241021016859A
Case key
195366

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

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain a stabilized approach, that resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent collision with trees. Contributing to the accident, was the pilot’s decision to attempt to land to a closed runway.

Findings · 4

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.

Action: incorrect action selectionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 150J: 1 caseAll aircraft: 397 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 150J: 13 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide pathAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 150J: 2 casesAll aircraft: 809 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 pilot reported that he decided to utilize a known closed runway to land at the airport, due to the wind conditions. During the approach to the dry turf runway, he reported the airplane was “considerably too high and almost certainly too fast.” The pilot deployed full flaps, and the airplane started to descend “steeply” toward the end of the runway. When the airplane touched down on the runway, it bounced, and the airplane departed the runway straight ahead. The airplane crossed a road and impacted several trees next to a home. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that during the approach, he should have performed a go-around and established a stabilized approach. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airport/Facility Directory, the runway the pilot selected to use is not listed for use at the airport.

Aircraft

Registration
N51046
Reported as
Cessna 150 (J)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15069726
Built
1968
Airframe hours
6,361.8
Engine
Continental Motors O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 17, 2022
Departed
OZW · Howell, MI
Destination
Same as departure
Airport
43G · Belleville
Equipment
Handheld GPS, ADS-B

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
75
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
BasicMed, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 14, 2023
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
626.1 total · 545.8 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 13 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
30.19 inHg
Observed at
KYIP, 4 nm away
METAR
KYIP 211853Z 25013KT 10SM CLR 27/05 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP219 T02670050

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.9 MB 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.

Other investigations on N51046 · 1

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