# NTSB CEN25LA147: Cessna 150F, N6561F, Zeeland, MI, April 8, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2025, 08:51 local (12:51 UTC)
- Place: Zeeland, MI
- Coordinates: 42.817176, -85.927917 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8172&lon=-85.9279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199978
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199978/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199978
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA147

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the go-around which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and entering an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and her failure to ensure that the student had relinquished control of the airplane during the go-around.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: 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)
- [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and student were conducting a primary instruction flight. The flight instructor reported that the student allowed the airplane to get low and slow during a landing approach. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, added full throttle for a go-around, and began to retract the flaps. The flight instructor recalled being unable to reduce airplane pitch and believed her student may have still been on the flight controls. The student reported that after the flight instructor took control of the airplane it got too slow and entered an aerodynamic stall. Airport surveillance video showed the airplane flying over the runway in a nose-high pitch attitude and yawed left when it descended and impacted the ground left wing first. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted in the grass next to the runway. The airplane’s forward fuselage and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged during the ground impact and subsequent nose over. Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The flight instructor reported that the accident could have been prevented had she not been “overconfident” in the student’s ability to land the airplane, if she had ensured the student had relinquished control of the airplane when she began the go-around, and if she had been quicker to recognize the situation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6561F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6561F), registered now, S/N 15063161, 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: 15063161
- Year built: 1966
- Airframe hours: 6796
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Wings Aero LLC
- Registered owner: Wings Aero LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2025, 11 hours before
- Departed: Z98, Zeeland, MI
- Destination: Z98, Zeeland, MI
- Airport: Z98, Ottawa Executive Airport, runway 2, 3,800 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 26, 2025; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 262 total, 4 in this make and model, 172 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: KBIV, 9 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBIV 081253Z AUTO 34003KT 10SM OVC036 M02/M10 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP222 T10171100=

## 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 20250408006539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250408006539A), Apr 8, 2025: Cessna 150F, Zeeland, MI, Substantial damage. On April 8, 2025, at 0854 EDT, a Cessna 150F aircraft, registered as [privacy data omitted] and [privacy data omitted], sustained significant damage during a…

## Other investigations on N6561F (2)

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 CHI72FEK09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEK09), Nov 23, 1971: Cessna 150F (N6561F), Zanesville, OH, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI68F0655](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0655), Mar 24, 1968: Cessna 150F (N6561F), Plymouth, IN, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199978. 15.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (flight instructor) (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19589993&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20(Flight%20Instructor)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (student pilot) (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19589574&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20(Student%20Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Airport security camera video (item 3, MP4, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19590411&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=03%20-%20Airport%20Security%20Camera%20Video-Rel.mp4
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19590313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.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.