- Date
- January 1, 1990, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Elkhart, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8575GCessna 150F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900101000029A
- Case key
- 14615
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft, which resulted in his failure to maintain proper runway alignment. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in winter operations, the icy runway condition, and the snowbank.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after a local area flight. He and the passenger, who was a student pilot, returned to the departure airport. The pilot estimated that the runway was plowed to a usable width of about 25 feet & was icy. He described the approach and touchdown as normal and smooth. During the landing roll, the aircraft 'slid to the right,' encountered a crusty snowbank and nosed over. Neither of the pilots had much experience with winter flight operations. The pilot stated that, given 'how bad the runway was...' He should not have attempted to land on it.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8575G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15062675
- Airframe hours
- 4,172
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Vfr Fliers, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Vfr Fliers, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 1989 · 204 hours before
- Departed
- GSH · Goshen, IN
- Airport
- 3C1 · Mishawaka Pilot'S Club, runway 21, 2,600 × 40 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
- 31
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 63 total · 59 in this make and model · 36 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SBN, 12 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.