CHI01LA056

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Allegan, MI · December 31, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 31, 2000, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
Place
Allegan, MI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N63276Cessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 9, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - Grand Rapids FSDO
FAA report
20001231026439A
Case key
50896

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 proper glide path not maintained by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the deep snow.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

UndershootLanding
Proper glidepath - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Nose overLanding - roll
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor

Analysis

While practicing a short-field landing the aircraft landed 300-feet short of the runway in deep snow causing the aircraft to nose-over. The pilot reported, "Approximately 300 feet out [from the approach end of runway 28] I experienced a loss of power, and the plane dropped. Low altitude at the time of the accident allowed for little reaction time. I did, however, pull back on the yoke to keep the nose up. The plane touched down in deep snow, mains first, and stopped immediately causing it to flip forward onto nose. It then skidded a short distance, then flipped on over to rest on its top." Postaccident investigation of the aircraft, including its flight control systems, did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident investigation of the aircraft engine and its accessories did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine.

Factual narrative

On December 31, 2000, at 0850 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N63276, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a nose-over during landing roll subsequent to landing short of runway 28 (3,498 feet by 75 feet, snow covered/asphalt) at the Padgham Field Airport, Allegan, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight departed a private airstrip near Paw Paw, Michigan, at 0840.

According to the pilot's written statement, he was practicing a short-field landing to runway 28 at the time of the accident. The pilot stated, "Approximately 300 feet out [from the approach end of runway 28] I experienced a loss of power, and the plane dropped. Low altitude at the time of the accident allowed for little reaction time. I did, however, pull back on the yoke to keep the nose up. The plane touched down in deep snow, mains first, and stopped immediately causing it to flip forward onto nose. It then skidded a short distance, then flipped on over to rest on its top."

Postaccident investigation of the aircraft, including its flight control systems, did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Postaccident investigation of the aircraft engine and its accessories did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine.

Aircraft

Registration
N63276
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15077224
Airframe hours
2,233.7
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Mark Romeo Leduc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · May 15, 2000 · 21.4 hours before
Departed
PVT · Paw Paw, MI
Destination
35D · Allegan, MI
Airport
35D · Padgham Field, runway 28, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
46
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
August 21, 2000
Seat
Left
Flight hours
652 total · 550 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,000 ft broken
Temperature
19 °F, dew point 18 °F
Altimeter
30.13 inHg
Observed at
AZO, 22 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.

Other investigations on N63276 · 1

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