# NTSB CHI96LA199: Cessna 150, N16047, Charlotte, MI, June 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 1996, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, MI - Coordinates: 42.56015, -84.829788 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5602&lon=-84.8298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10277/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA199 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to use all the available runway for takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the wet grass airstrip and the powerlines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission(marked) (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause) - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane was unable to clear powerlines located directly at the departure end of the airstrip. The airplane stalled and contacted the terrain with the left wing followed by the nose. The takeoff on the wet grass airstrip was initiated at the 1,600 foot point on the 2,000 foot long runway. The airplane was near gross weight at the time. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 1996, at 1230 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N16047, collided with the terrain following a loss of control during an initial takeoff climb from a private grass airstrip in Charlotte, Michigan. The pilot and a pilot rated passenger both received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. Both pilots stated the takeoff was made with 10 degrees of flaps and full power. There were powerlines located directly at the departure end of the airstrip. The passenger reported he was looking at a chart and he "did not look up until the plane was airborne and [the pilot] was applying left rudder causing the plane to yaw left. I saw powerlines to the north. It didn't appear that we were much higher than those powerlines." He stated that at this point the airplane was sinking and the stall horn sounded after the airplane yawed approximately 90 degrees to the left. He continued to stated that at an altitude of approximately 50 feet above the ground, the left wing dropped becoming perpendicular with the ground and the airplane impacted the terrain with the left wingtip and nose striking the ground. The pilot stated that at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above the ground as he "reached to retract the flaps, a severe wind gust from behind caused the indicated airspeed to drop from 70 mph to below 40 mph and the plane dipped toward power lines slightly forward. In that instant, I kicked left rudder and rolled aileron left to avoid potential conflict and hopefully catch some wind." The pilot stated the airplane continued to sink and after 90 degrees of left turn, he attempted to neutralize the controls as the airplane landed in a field rocking forward onto the nose followed by the left wing. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who traveled to the accident site and the airstrip owner both stated that the airstrip was wet at the time of takeoff. The takeoff was initiated approximately 400 feet from the beginning of the airstrip leaving 1,600 feet of usable airstrip for the takeoff. Winds reported at Lansing, Michigan (19 miles northeast of the airstrip) were from the west at 9 knots. The pilot reported on his NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that the local winds were from 360 degrees at 12 knots. witnesses reported the winds were from the northwest. The airplane was loaded near gross weight at the time of takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16047](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16047-1997-03-19), registration cancelled 1997-03-19, S/N 15073439 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15073439 - Airframe hours: 5476 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas J. Kennedy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1996, 5 hours before - Destination: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Airport: Jim'S Private Airstrip, runway 36, 1,600 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 18,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAN, 19 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 19960613013769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960613013769A), Jun 13, 1996: Cessna 150L, Charlotte, MI, Substantial damage. Stalled trying to clear wires at end of wet grass strip. Failed determine capability to clear same. Over gross wt. (-23) aircraft stalled about 30 feet in the… ## Other investigations on N16047 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI86LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86LA130), Apr 23, 1986: Cessna 150 (N16047), Gregory, MI, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.