# NTSB CHI91FA302: Cessna A150L, N4501F, Bellaire, MI, September 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1991, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Bellaire, MI
- Coordinates: 44.969741, -85.200424 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9697&lon=-85.2004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14920
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91FA302
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14920/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91FA302

## Probable cause

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION WHICH RESULTED IN AN INAVERENT STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TERRAIN. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent
  - altitude - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - terrain condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

THE INSTRUCTOR AND PRE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WERE ON A LOCAL DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN 'THE FRONT END DROPPED OUT AND IT SPUN DOWN WARD, TWISTING AND SPIRALLING...BEHIND THE TREES.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN 85 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ROTATION ABOUT THE LONGITITUDINAL AXIS.  BOTH HAND GRIPS WERE BROKEN OFF THE LEFT YOKE, AND THE LEFT HAND GRIP WAS BROKEN OFF THE RIGHT YOKE.  THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4501F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4501F-1992-01-24), registration cancelled 1992-01-24, S/N A1500414 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A150L
- Registry model: [Cessna A150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150l) (registry code 2071828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A1500414
- Airframe hours: 2738
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Gerald A. Roude
- Registered owner: Plane Fun, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1991, 90 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,308 total, 2,260 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910924042809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910924042809A), Sep 24, 1991: Cessna A150L, Bellaire, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft stalled,went into spin. No recovery. Impacted ground vertical.

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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