# NTSB CHI83LA116: Cessna 150, N704RX, Three Oaks, MI, February 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1983, 00:50 local (05:50 UTC)
- Place: Three Oaks, MI
- Coordinates: 41.789775, -86.609649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7898&lon=-86.6096&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA116

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fatigue, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & HIS STUDENT HAD STARTED FLYING AT APRX 1900 EST. THE PURPOSE WAS TO GIVE THE STUDENT APRX 3 HRS OF NIGHT INSTRUCTION. A REFUELING STOP WAS MADE AT SOUTH BEND, IN. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT, THE CFI STAYED IN THE ACFT DURING THE REFUELING. THE STUDENT THOUGHT THAT THE CFI WAS TIRED & WAS RESTING IN THE ACFT. SEVERAL LANDINGS WERE MADE AT DIFFERENT ARPTS IN THE AREA. ON THE 2ND APCH TO THE OSELKA ARPT, THE ACFT STRUCK THE ROOF OF A BARN WHILE ON FINAL. IT THEN IMPACTED A DITCH JUST SHORT OF THE RWY & NOSED OVER. REPORTEDLY, THE CFI HAD BEEN WORKING SINCE 1000 EST THAT MORNING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N704RX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078824
- Airframe hours: 2400
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: David A. Paul
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 1982
- Departed: SBN, SOUTH BEND, IN
- Destination: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Airport: 39C, Oselka, runway 26, 2,770 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,345 total, 250 in this make and model, 89 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 16 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 19830221004649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830221004649A), Feb 21, 1983: Cessna 150M, Three Oaks, MI, Substantial damage. Too low on final on a night landing. Wheels hit a barn roof. Airplane crash landed in a ditch short of the runway.

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.

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