# NTSB CHI00LA311: Cessna 150H, N50318, Michigan City, IN, September 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2000, 09:38 local (14:38 UTC) - Place: Michigan City, IN - Coordinates: 41.709114, -86.869789 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7091&lon=-86.8698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50394/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA311 ## Probable cause fuel contamination (water) and the pilot exceeding his landing field distance. Factors relating to this accident were the pilot inadequate preflight planning/preparation, his having to select an unsuitable landing area, the short landing area, and the marsh. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - distance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he was flying over Lake Michigan, when the airplane's engine began to lose power. He proceeded direct to the Michigan City Municipal Airport, Michigan City, Indiana. While en route, he turned on the carburetor heat, but it had "minimal effect, if any," on the engine's performance. Approximately 1/4 mile from the end of the runway the pilot realized he was not going to make it. He located a baseball park and executed a forced landing to it. The pilot tried to stop the airplane before reaching a marsh at the field's edge. The airplane's nose gear broke at the edge of a marsh and the airplane turned over. The pilot noted that when the engine first began running rough, the airplane's fuel tanks were 1/4 full. An examination of the airplane's engine showed water in the gascolator bowl. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2000, at 0938 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150H, N50318, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing on a field, located 1/4 mile north of Michigan City, Indiana. Prior to attempting the forced landing, the airplane's engine lost power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane reported no injuries. The local flight originated at the Micigan City Municipal Airport, Michigan City, Indiana, at 0815 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said he was flying over Lake Michigan, when the airplane's engine began to lose power. The pilot said he proceeded direct to the Michigan City Airport. While heading toward the airport, the pilot said he turned on the carburetor heat. He said that it had a "minimal effect, if any," on the engine's performance. The pilot said that he was about 1/4 mile from the end of the runway and realized that he was not going to make it. He located a baseball park and executed a forced landing to it. The pilot said he tried to stop as soon as he could, but there was a marsh/lake at the end of the field. He said that the nose gear broke in the mud and the airplane turned over. The pilot said that when the engine first began to run rough, he noticed that there was "approximately 1/4 tanks on board [the] aircraft." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane rested inverted on the edge of a small pond. The airplane's nose wheel was pushed up into the fuselage frame. The engine mounts were bent upward and aft. The firewall was wrinkled. The propeller was broken aft. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed downward and bent over. Approximately 10 gallons of fuel was observed in the airplane's fuel tanks. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engine showed water in the gascolator bowl. All of the engine spark plugs showed heavy carbon on their respective electrodes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50318](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50318), registered now, S/N 15069224, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069224 - Airframe hours: 6177 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: J L G Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 2000, 50 hours before - Departed: MGC - Airport: MGC, Micigan City Municipal, runway 2, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 140 total, 50 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 144 °F, dew point 122 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SBN, 23 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 20000930042859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000930042859A), Sep 30, 2000: Cessna 150H, Michigan City, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he lost power while in cruise near lake Michigan and Michigan City airport. He applied carb heat and it helped a bit, but continued to… ## Other investigations on N50318 (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 CHI82DA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA340), Sep 7, 1982: Cessna 150H (N50318), Genoa City, WI, substantial damage 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.