- Date
- February 18, 1990, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plainwell, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N50003Cessna 150H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 5, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900218002359A
- Case key
- 14634
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
Foreign object (ice), which jammed the right wheel. A factor related to the accident was: 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/owner reported that, while attempting to takeoff on an ice covered runway with a direct crosswind, he was unable to maintain/regain directional control. The aircraft departed the right side of the runway, struck a snowbank and nosed over. After the accident, the pilot discovered a piece of ice wedged inside the wheelpant of the right main landing gear, which he believed 'seized the wheel.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N50003
- Reported as
- Cessna 150H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069000
- Airframe hours
- 4,573
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Combs, Jerry A.
- Registered owner
- Combs, Jerry A
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 31, 1989 · 51 hours before
- Departed
- 61D
- Destination
- 07G · Charlotte, MI
- Airport
- 61D · Otsego-Plainwell Muni, runway 27, 2,650 × 50 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
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 290 total · 251 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AZO, 14 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.