- Date
- July 13, 1994, 06:45 local (10:45 UTC)
- Place
- Watersmeet, MI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6579GCessna 150
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940713018429A
- Case key
- 9593
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
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, and his inadequate preflight planning and preparation. Factors associated with the accident were the fog and the trees.
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 states that prior to departure, he observed the sky to be clear, visibility was good, and there was almost no wind. He did observe for over two lakes which are located adjacent to the runway, but believed that he would be able to takeoff, climb, and remain clear of the effected area. Immediately after takeoff, the airplane entered the fog, which had rolled over the runway. The airplane entered into a descending left turn and impacted trees. No preimpact abnormalities were reported.
Factual narrative
On July 13, 1994, at 0645 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N6579G, was destroyed when it struck trees at the end of the runway after takeoff from a private airport in Watersmeet, Michigan. The commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in instrument meteorological conditions without flight plan.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that prior to departure he observed the sky to be clear, visibility was good, and there was almost no wind. He did however, observe fog over two lakes which are located adjacent to the runway, but he believed that he would be able to takeoff, climb, and remain clear of the effected area. Immediately after takeoff, the airplane entered the fog which had rolled over the field. At this point, the pilot states he hesitated because he was not prepared to make the transition from visual to instrument flight. During the few seconds that he hesitated, the airplane entered into a descending left turn and impacted trees.
A witness reported that he observed the fog rolling over the runway as the airplane was taking off. After takeoff, he saw the airplane enter into a left turn just prior to losing sight of it in the fog.
No preimpact mechanical abnormalities with the airplane were reported by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6579G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15072079
- Airframe hours
- 1,140
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Instit. For Basic Life Prin.
- Registered owner
- Instit. For Basic Life Prin.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 2, 1994 · 2 hours before
- Airport
- NRC · Northwoods Conference Ctr
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
- 22
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 411 total · 3 in this make and model · 360 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 0.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 28 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.